which are now making in Germany to render every new me, dical discovery more generally known, as well as to carry the healing art to a higher degree of perfection. NATURAL HISTORY. Entomological ART. XI. Entomologische Versuche, &c. Essays. By CH. CREUTZER. With three coloured plates by STURM, pp. 142, crown 8vo. Vienna, for Schaumburg and Co. 1799. THESE essays are the first fruits of the lucubrations of a diligent observer of insects, which he lays before the public with a modesty bordering on timidity. The results of the author's observations are extremely interesting, and the plates executed with taste and correctness. ART. XII. Historie Amphibiorum naturalis et literaria Fasciculus primus, continens Ranas, Calamitas, Bufones, Salamandras, et Hydros, in genera et species descriptos, notisque suis distinctos. Auctor JOAN G. SCHNEIDER, Saxo, pp. 264, 8vo. with two plates. Jena, for Frommann, 1799. Mr. SCHNEIDER, already known and honoured in Germany as an eminent natural historian, for his two Specimina Physiologie Amphibiorum, and an excellent Natural History of the Testudo, intends to publish in numbers a history and survey of amphibious animals, of which he present number is a specimen. If the whole work be written with the same critical judgment and correctness as is displayed in this number, it will undoubtedly prove a classical composition, and greatly excel all amphibiological works hitherto published. GEOGRAPHY. ART. XII. Reise von Amsterdam über Madrid und Cadix nach Genoa, &c. A Journey from Amsterdam to Genoa, by way of Madrid and Cadiz, performed in 1797 and 1798, by C. A. FISCHER. Together with an Appendix on the Mode of travelling in Spain, pp. 526. Berlin, for Unger. PROFESSOR FISCHER'S description of his journey through Spain deserves to be eminently distinguished from all works on the same subject lately published in Germany, and proves him a judicious and impartial observer, as well as a most interesting and skilful describer of men and manners. His account is at the same time highly instructive, as he furnishes us with very ' valuable valuable additions to the intelligence we find in the works of Bourgoing and other travellers who have lately visited Spain. His descriptions are extremely picturesque, and his account of Spanish literature more complete than that of any of his predecessors. The two first letters on Madrid are particularly interesting and animated. The traits of the peculiarities of the female sex in Spain, selected by our author for the information of his readers, exhibit striking proofs of the great talents with which nature appears to have endowed the Spanish ladies, whilst they, at the same time, evince the high degree of vicious luxury to which they are addicted. Confined as are our limits, we cannot, in justice to our readers, refrain from extracting the subsequent passage relative to the manner in which the Spanish ladies evince their love of the male sex. "The more coolness a lover displays, the more ardour is shown by his mistress; the more he seems to shun her, the more eagerly is his Society coveted by her. She seems to love him, whilst she, in fact, is only desirous of insuring his affection for her. She appears to be entirely devoted to him, whilst she incessantly exerts herself to render him her slave. A Spanish lady displays an high degree of fidelity and attachment: her firm character preserves her from fickleness, her pride from meanness: but she displays these good qualities more for her own sake than on her lover's account. She is capable of the most exalted sentiments, the greatest sacrifices, and the most generous actions; but the motives originate more in her regard for herself than in her love. She considers her lover as her exclusive property, as a slave who is dear to her, but of whom she demands an unlimited devotion. He becomes the constant sport of the caprices of his fair one, who frequently with egoistic obstinacy requires him to perform impossibilities." The various traits which our author gives of the character of the Spanish nation, excite high expectations of the exalted state of refinement and national energy, to which it might be raised if ever a better fortune should again smile upon them. Many observations made by our author on this head are particularly interesting with regard to the present political situa tion of Spain. The decided hatred displayed by the Spaniards against all strangers and innovations, are directed more universally against the French than any other nation. The influence which the French party at present has over the court does not prove any thing against this assertion. It is not to the nation itself, but to the passions of the great, they must be ascribed. Those grandees of the French party who at present exercise a superior influence over the court, promote the Gallic interests merely because one of their rivals sides with the English party. The abolition of tithes, effected by by means of the influence of French maxims, has met with universal approbation, but the French revolution has excited an universal disgust and abhorrence. (To be concluded in our next.) ART. XIII. Moskwa. Eine Skizze, &c.-Moscow An his torical Sketch. By G. RICHTER, with an Engraving, Leips zig, 1799. A characteristical description of Moscow, that remarkable capital of the Russian Empire, written by an able pen, cannot but be highly acceptable to those who know how defective and erroneous are the accounts hitherto given of it by travellers. The author of the present description, who com bines a considerable degree of sound judgment with a complete local knowledge acquired during a long residence at Moscow, possesses every requisite qualification to satisfy the curiosity of his readers, and by the elegance of his style, and the justness of his observations, not only affords much amusement but the most ample instruction. HISTORY. ART. XIV. Allgemeines Jahrbuch der Geographie, &c. Universal Annals of Geography and Statistics, for the year 1800. By A. C. GASPARI, pp. 209, 8vo. with Maps and Plates. Weimar, 1800. To collect the statistical and geographical changes, occurring not only in Europe, but on the whole globe, and to re port them annually to the public, appears to us an undertaking eminently useful, as it enables the scientific reader, with facility, to keep pace with the progress these important sciences are daily making, and to form a correct judgment of political events. This is the well-digested plan upon which the work before us is written, and in the execution of which Mr. Gaspari is assisted by the contributions of several literati of great scientific reputation. A translation of this important work being in hand, we deem it needless to prove its superior inerits, by giving specimens of the manner in which the learned author has executed his difficult task, observing only that it is the most honourable monument of German diligence, and promises to meet with no less applause in this country, than it has justly received in Germany. ART. 3 ART. XV. Epaminondas Biographie, &c. The Life of Epaminondas. By A. G. MEISSNER, pp. 354. 8vo, Prague, for Barth, 1798., Mr. Meissner deserves the thanks of all lovers of history for the care and fidelity with which he has executed this interesting work, so successfully calculated to diffuse solid instruction, whilst it affords a more than common degree of rational amusement. Mr. Meissner has used his sources with critical care, and interspersed his account with numerous observations which prove him to possess a profound knowledge of the heart, and to be deeply versed in the practical philosophy of human life. The style in which this interesting life is written is highly elegant, and free from that affectation observable in his former publications. ART. XVI. De Xenophonte Historico disserit, simulque Historie scribendæ rationem, quam inde ab Herodoto et Thucydide Scriptores Græci secuti sunt, illustrare studet, G. F. CREUZER, Particula I. Lipsiæ, apud Mülleri hæred. in commiss. 1799, pp. xviii. and 126, 8vo. The doubts raised by Lucian against the historical fidelity of Thucydides, prompted Mr. Creuzer to publish, in 1798, a treatise intitled: Herodotus and Thucydides, or an attempt towards a revision of some of their historical principles (Herodot und Thucydides, Versuch einer nähern Würdigung einiger ihrer historischen Grundsätze, &c.) This useful work is continued in the present volume, which treats exclusively of Xenophon's historical merits. Mr. Creuzer promises to enter into similar investigations of the merits of individual Greek historians, and in process of time to furnish a complete work on the gradual progress and changes of the historic art among the Greeks. In the essay before us, he attemps to shew, from the historical writings of Xenophon, what progress history had made from the time of Thucydides, and furnishes us with a copious mass of very valuable contributions towards a history of the historic art among the Greeks, which afford ample proofs of the author's erudition and refined critical judgment. VOL. II. I BELLES ART. XVII. Ethica Philosophie criticæ, ad virum amicissimum Paulum van Hemert. pp. 14. 8vo. Amsterdam, 1799. Mr.Hieronymus de BOLCH, who occupies an honourable rank among the Latin poets of his country, has already several times succesfully attempted to transplant the principles of philosophy into the regions of poetry. In 1793, he published a didactic poem, in two cantos, De Equalitate Hominum,to which he now has added a poetical representation of the Kantian system of morality. The author's manner rather resembles that of Lucretius than of Virgil. It distinguishes itself by an high degree of perspicuity, energy, and precision of diction, and frequently by a dignified neglect of external embellishments. The following lines are a specimen of his sententious mode of expression: "Ex aliis non quære modum, tibi qui sit habendus: BELLES LETTRES. Dirigat et cursus portumque recludat amænum. "Nullus adest meliora tibi præcepta daturus." His Muse takes a bolder flight in the following passage : "Libertatis enim ratio non castra timoris Seque putat Libræ vel Orionis incola ferri, Eternumque Deum propriore accedere gressu." The description which he gives of the passions, and the power which they exercise over the human mind, is particularly well executed. We beg leave to transcribe only the following passage: J "Sicut corda quatit pecudum cum sæva libido, "Fræna recusat equa, et circumvolat immemor herbæ "Pascua lata, nemusque ferax hinnitibus implens "Calce fatigatis tandem procumbit in arvis, "Nec stabulum exanimata suum nec pabula quærit: "Haud aliter primis juvenem, quem cepit in annis "Dulcis amor, trepidat refugitque fovetque calorem, "Viscera qui penetrat, somnumque expellit amicum." ORIGINAL |