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ART. VII. Briefe eines reisenden Russen, &c. &c.-Letters of a Russian Traveller. By KARAMSIN. Translated: from the Russian. By J. RICHTER. With four Plates. Leipzig, Hartknorh, 1800. Vol. I. pp. xvi. and 216. Vol. II. pp. x. and 213. Vol. III. pp xii. and 194. Vol. IV. pp. viii. and 216. 16mo.

THESE letters appeared first in the Journal of Moskaw, and were received with more than common applause, which induced the author to publish, two years ago, a second edition. We have perused them with great pleasure, as they are written in an artless stile and exhibit numerous proofs of the author's refined sentiments as well as of his mature judgment As Mr. Karamsin possesses an intimate knowledge of the German language, and has himself revived the translation, it may be justly supposed to be completely

correct.

ART. VIII. Sammlung von Völkergemaehlden, &c.—A

Collection of picturesque descriptions of nations, together with an attempt towards an history of mankind:-By G. MERKEL, Lubech, Bohn, 1800. pp. xlvi. and 338. 8vo.

The plan of the author, who intends to publish in three volumes, a description of the character, manners, and mode of life of the most remarkable nations of the globe, is not confined only to modern times, but comprehends all ages. The volume before us contains five picturesque descriptions, taken from the works of celebrated authors, and delineated in a correct and animated stile. 1. The Canadeans, after Raynal; 2. The ancient Germans, after Gibbon; 3. The Scythian pastoral tribes; 4. The Peruvians, after Robertson; 5. The Arabs, after Gibbon. Much more important than these descriptions is the treatise on the history of mankind, with which this volume begins.

ART. IX. Der Corsen Sitten und Gebräuche, &c.-The Manners and Customs of the Corsicans:-Translated from the French of Citizen FEYDELL, by F. W. B. VON ZEITZ, Webel, 1800. pp. xvi. and 102. 8vo.

The original of this work was published two years ago, under the title, Moeurs et coutumes des Corses. Memoire tirè en partie d'un grand ouvrage sur la politique, la legislation et la morale des diverses Nations de l'Europe.-The

author

author of this instructive composition has, in a masterly manner, delineated the manners and customs of a nation in every respect interesting to the philosophical observer of man. The reader cannot but with astonishment read in this work, that there exists a people living in the neighbourhood, and under the protection of one of the most refined nations of Europe, and notwithstanding, in point of mental cultivation, inferior even to many savage tribes, although by no means destitute of talents, love of liberty, and ambition. The translation is faithful, and reads like an original. The translator has added a history of Corsica innule, which, however, might have been rendered much more instructive, had he made a proper use of the numerous and important materials to be found in Bellin's descrpt. geogr. et histor. de l'isle Corse (Paris, 1787), Gaudin's Voyage en Corse (1787), Boswel's account of Corsica, and in Zehn Briefen über die Eroberung von Corsica, Frankf. and Leipzig, 1770.)

HISTORY.

ART. X. Neues Museum für die Sächsische Geschichte, &c. &c.-The New Museum, intended to promote the Improvement of the History, Literature, and Statistics of Saxony. Conducted by Prof. C. E. WEISSE, Freyburg, Cray, 1800. No. 1, pp. 178, crown 8vo.

The first number of this new periodical work contains nine articles that lead us to predict, that it, in time, will occupy a respectable station amongst the numerous periodical publications at present issuing from the German presses.

ART. XI. Krieg der Franzosen in Aegypten &c.-The war of the French in Egypt and Syria, at the close of the 18th century: By General DUMAS, the Editor of the Précis des Everemens militaires; with two maps; translated from the French, Hamburg, Perthers, 1800. pp. 189. crown 8vo.

This work is a translation of the two last numbers of the Preci's of 1799, mentioned in the title page. The celebrity of that periodical work, has been sufficiently established by the solidity of reasoning, the veracity and penetration with which it is composed, and we can without partiality aver that the article before us possesses equal merits. The account is concise, interesting and practical, and the constant regard paid to the situation of Europe, especially the faithful representation of the relation of the porte to the French Republic,

enable

enable the reader properly to survey the connection in which this war stands with the latest events that have taken place in Europe, as well as the causes and effects thereof. The author concludes his account with Bonaparte's return to Europe. The first map represents the coast of Alexandria and Aboukir, and the second Egypt and Syria. The translation is in every respect worthy of the original.

ART. XI. Pius der Sechste und sein Pontificat, &c. &c.— Pius VI, and his Pontificate. An historical and philosophycal description, translated from the French, by the author of the Darstellungen aus Italien. Illustrated with annotations by the translator, and enriched with an appendix, containing fragments on the resolution of Rome in 1798, &c. &c. Hamburg, K. E. Bohn. 1800. pp. 14. and 686. 8vo.

The translator of this work, Dr. F. I. L. Meyer, of Hamburg, honorably known by his Fragments from Paris, informs us that the author of the original is a man who is profoundly skilled in political transactions, and has written several statistical works of considerable merit. There is scarcely one of the 32 sections into which this elaborate work is divided, in which we have not met with the most convincing proofs of the truth of this assertion. Only a consummate statesman was capable of developing with so keen a penetration the relation of the roman court under Pius VI. to the individual powers of Europe, and with so profound a knowledge of the world and the human heart to concenter into a common focus the apparently contradictory peculiarities and actions of the supreme Bishop and Regent, united in one person. The author's impartiality is sufficiently warranted by the humane forbearance with which he judges of persons whose character is severely censured by the unanimous voice of the public; whilst he manifests the most manly frankness in laying open and proving and corrobating by undeniable facts the weakness of the late Pope as well as of other great personages. He proves throughout the whole work that vanity was the main source of all the proceedings of Pius VI.— The annotations of the translator contain illustrations, corrections and anecdotes which greatly enhance the value of this interesting work.

ART. XII. Kurze Geschichte des Generals Mack, &c.—A brief History of General Mack, from his departure from

Vienna

Vienna to Naples, towards the end of Sept. 1798, till his fortunate escape from his captivity in France. Nürnberg, 1800. pp. 28. 8vo.

General Mack, who to all appearance, is the author of this composition, attempts to prove that he was betrayed by the Neapolitans, and unjustly detained in France as a prisoner of war. With this view he gives a brief account of the warlike events that happened whilst he exercised the supreme. command in Italy, as well as of the particulars of his being taken prisoner by the French, of the treatment which he experienced at Dijon and Paris, and finally, of the manner in which he effected his flight.-We must, however, observe, that the whole account bears the strongest marks of the most unjust partiality.

ART. XIII. Merkwürdige Begebenheiten, Characterzüge

&c. &c. Memorable events, characteristical traits and anecdotes, taken from the lives of celebrated and famous perSons: By the author of the Historical descriptions, Vol. IV. Leipzic I. F. HARTNOCK, 1800. pp. 414. 8vo.

This collection of historical fragments and descriptions distinguishes itself in a very favorable manner. The present volume contains: 1. Scenes of the life of Gustaphus III. king of Sweden. 2. Godoi, duke of Alcudia, called the Prince of Peace. 3. Henry IV. of Bourbon; an historical sketch. 4 and 5. Hal-Mehi-Cautimire. 6. Seb. Jos. de Caovalho, count of Oyras, marquiss of Pombal; an historical sketch. 7. John Huss, the martyr of truth. 8. La Peyrouse. 9. Cardinal Borgia. 10. Charles the Great. 11. Theodosius and his Favorite. 12. A scene of the life of Vestris, the famous dancer. 13. Maternal love. 14. The preservation. 15. Nichols. 16. A noble trait of a German minister of state. 17. Elspy Campbel. 18. A scene of the life of Las Casas. 19. Mentschikoff and Dolgoruky.-We have been most pleased with numbers 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11. The tales which this volume contains, are related in a pleasing manner, and afford very instructive entertain

ment.

BELLES LETTRES.

ART. XIV. Ebba von Medem, a Tragedy: By L.T. KOSEGARTEN, Hamburg, Perthes, 1800, pp. 173, 8vo. A compound of affectation and bombastic language; of

which, we should not have taken any notice, were it not our duty to caution our readers against a composition, the perusal of which can afford them neither pleasure nor in

struction.

ART. XV. Zweimal Sterben macht Unfug, &c.-To die twice causes mischief: A play in five acts. (Author unknown.) Leipzic, for Göschen, 1800, pp. 196, 8vo.

This piece affords a striking proof, that trifling defects in the disposition of the plot may produce a considerable drawback upon the amusement of the reader, as well as the spectator, although the characters be well kept, the dialogue casy and energetic, and the scenes full of action and interest. Not one of the dramatic persons is supurfluous, and the whole piece is enlivened by a rich vein of genuine humour, not degenerating, in a single instance, into buffoonery.

ART. XVI. Die Sollicitanten, &c. &c.-The Petitioners: A dramatic family piece, in three acts. (Author not known.) Leipzic, for Schäfer, 1800, pp. 128, 8vo.

Readers who prefer ease to energy, in the delineation of characters, and a fluent dialogue to bold and sublime diction, will derive a considerable degree of satisfaction from the perusal of this play.

ART. XVII. Die Erscheinung.-The Apparition. (Author's name not mentioned.). Brunswick, for Schröder, 1800, pp. 225, 8vo..

Ferdinand Bolton, a young Englishman, possesses a lively imagination, and is of a melancholy disposition. He takes a trip to the continent, in order to enlarge his knowledge of men and manners; and, on his passage to Calais, forms an acquaintance with Weonerich, a German, who, during a violent storm, amuses himself with reading Shakespear's Hamlet. This meeting, however, is not accidental, as Bolton supposes, but the effect of a preconcerted design to ruin him. They proceed from Calais to Hamburg, and thence to Berlin. Weonerich, a consummate rogue, assisted by his associates, a pretended countess Caragni, and her brother, who introduces himself as a marquiss of Veruli, contrives powerfully to work upon the sickly imagination of the young man, and thereby prepares the execution of a plan of the most infernal vengeance; for the particulars of which, we refer our readers to the work itself.

ART.