vinced that Joseph would then have conquered the great Frederic, had not his mother tied up his hands by peremptorily protesting against all bloodshed. These old wounds were hardly skinned over, when the war of the coalition broke out; and the separate peace, which Prussia shortly afterward made, roused afresh the resentment of the Austrians, which was not abated by the determined resolution of the present king not to enter into the new coalition. The animosity is now at such a height, that it frequently manifests itself even in mixed companies, and breaks out in terms that by no means savour of Christian meekness. No traveller from any part of the Prussian monarchy can find any pleasure in a visit to Vienna, since numbers here so far forget themselves as to say things that mast be extremely offensive to a Prussian ear. Consequently, a traveller from that country is scarcely ever seen in this city.

The expedition to Champagne is another subject that is never mentioned with moderation at Vienna. This indeed is an inexhaustible fund of exasperation; and even many of the officers who served in that campaign join in bitter complaints against the conductors of it. They relate the whole transaction in a manner widely different from that in which we have been told it in northern Germany.'

The fourth volume conducts us in the same pleasant manner through Italy, and back again to Hamburgh: but we have already given such long extracts, that we cannot afford room for any of the particulars in which this volume abounds. In Italy, indeed, the path is so much beaten, that it would be difficult to find new objects of attention.

To conclude; we have received so much satisfaction from the perusal of this book, that we cannot refrain from thinking that a good translation of it would not be unacceptable to the British public...

ART. XIV. Traité de Mecanique élémentaire, &c.; ie, A Treatise on Elementary Mechanics, for the Use of the Pupils of the Polytechnic School; arranged according to the Method of R. Prony, one of the Founders of that School, and intended as an Introduc tion to his "Philosophical Mechanics." By L. B. FRANCOEUR, one of the Teachers in that School. 8vo. Paris. 1801. Imported by De Boffe, London.

N EARLY all authors, in their introductions, state some motive as having impelled them to publish; and among the motives assigned, we scarcely ever find the desire of fame or of profit: yet' philosophers tell us, and we know it ourselves, that these hopes have a general, permanent, and powerful influence. Are authors, then, exempt from their influence; or do they sometimes conceal the actual reasons for not "sparing perishable paper?"

The

The motive alleged by M. FRANCOEUR is the wish of furnishing an easy introduction to the very profound and abstruse publications of La Grange, Prony, and La Place, published under the titles of Analytical, Philosophical, and Celestial Mechanics: which, it is true, are adapted to the comprehension of the learned alone. A work, then, which really furnished the student, with knowlege sufficient for the comprehension of the above mentioned treatises, would be a valuable acquisition: for it is a fact worthy of notice, that a series of books cannot be pointed out, which enable the student to understand what, for instance, La Place has written in his Mecanique Celeste, or La Grange in his Mecanique Analytique; except that series be made so large, that much useless matter will be unprofitably studied, or much necessary matter tediously reperused. Hence it is that, since proper [treatises are wanting, instructors and tutors are useful, who serve to fill up the chasms of recorded science, and to supply the deficiencies of written knowlege.

Whatever be the talents of M. FRANCOEUR, he has not completed the sketch which he makes in his Introduction, nor composed such a treatise as he has described as necessary to be written. It is true that he has collected much valuable matter, and displayed considerable reading; that his comments are frequently made with clearness, and his alterations with judgment: but difficult and easy discussions are here so indiscriminately mixed together, that supplements and illustrations are very necessary even for this supplemental and illutsrative work.

The work is divided into four Books, on Statics, Dynamics, Hydrostatics, and Hydronamics; the last book is short. In the beginning of Book 1st, are given two demonstrations of the resolution of forces, or, as the French usually call it, of the • parallelogramme des forces: one of which the author says is intirely elementary, and the other rests on principles of analysis the most ingenious. Neither of them, however, in our judgment, is free from objections; for, in the first, waiving all other remarks, we observe a manifest shifting of the hypothesis; and in the second, extracted from the profound treatise of La Place (Mécanique Celeste), we have something assumed, which, as it is not self-evident, ought to have been formally assumed.

This volume is a thick octavo, closely printed; and, in order to analyze it fully, many pages would be required: but its want of originality is a sufficient reason for our declining this task. Our readers will perceive that we do not feel warranted in commending it highly, although we readily confess that it is a performance far above the reach of ordinary talents and acquirements.

See our late Appendixes.

ART,

ART. XV. Des Homonymes Français, &c. ; i. e. French Homonyms, or Words which, in that Language, resemble one another in Sound, but differ in Sense. By L. PHILIPON-LA-MADE LAINE, Honorary Associate of the Athenæum at Lyons. 8vo. Paris. 1802. De Boffe, London. Price 6s.

PP. 438.

Ο UR neighbours have long set us a laudable example of attention to the refinements of their language; and they have found their reward in the polish and perspicuity which they have given to it. They have also thus ensured to their literature, encouragement far beyond that which any other country can boast, and have occasioned the French to become the diplomatic tongue. The synonyms of the Abbé Girard display a fine original turn; and the ability and acuteness conspicuous in that work, with the many instances of wit and point with which it abounds, are probably known to most of our readers. Mrs. Piozzi's late publication on the same subject, in our own language, though entertaining and not destitute of merit, by no means supersedes the necessity of farther labour in this field. Dr. Aikin, in the first volume of his Letters to his Son, affords a happy specimen of his talent in this way, and makes us wish that he had pursued it.

Homonyms, though a subject less instructive and less interesting than synonyms, offer many opportunities, of which the author before us successfully and happily avails himself, for nice and ingenious criticisms on grammar, orthography, and style. The work is much in the manner of that of Girard; and we shall not disparage the author by saying that he does not fall greatly short of his model. To those who study the French language, therefore, or those who intend to travel in that country with the view of improving themselves in their knowlege of its tongue, we recommend this volume as a valuable appendage to the Synonymes Français. For a similar purpose, also, we would remind them of the utility of M. de Beauclair's Series of Gallicisms, of which we have formerly given accounts. See M. R. vols. xv. XVII. and xxv. N. S.

It is obvious that this volume is not susceptible of transla tion; and that, therefore, we can make no extracts from it, without departing from our usual custom.

By the

ART. XVI. Charles et Marie.-i.e. Charles and Mary.
Author of Adele de Senange. 12mo. Paris. 1802. De Boffe,

London.

OUR UR great dramatist observes that "the web of our life is of a mingled yarn;" and novelists in general illustrate

this maxim, by leading the heroes of their stories through a great variety of adventures, and placing them in situations of the most extravagant contrast. The author of the little volume before us affects none of the sublimities of this art, but contents himself with conducting Charles and Mary along a smooth and easy path, with no other than the ordinary thorns which lovers find in their progress to the Temple of Hymen; such as a little jealousy, or occasionally the transient image of a troubled thought. Cupid plays Charles no tricks; and if the young man's horse had manifested equal gentleness towards his master, there would have been no disaster to interest our compassionate feelings: but that unruly animal throws his ider, and occasions a contusion on the brain, which introduces a delirium, and makes us tremble a moment for the hero's brains. When, however, we find that his mistress would marry him even when he is out of his senses, we pronounce him the most favored of lovers, and bid him farewell.

ART. XVII. Mappemonde celeste, &c. i. e. A general Map of the Heavens; or an Explanation of Astronomical Principles, relative to the terrestrial Globe, and the Knowlege of the Heavens. With the Application of the different elementary Notions of Geometry, Optics, Perspective, and Analytical Calculation, to these two Objects. By J. C. MACLOT. 8vo. Paris. 1801. Imported by De Boffe, London. Price 6s. sewed.

ELEMENTARY books treating of the same science must neces

sarily bear a great resemblance to each other; and the praise or blame, to which they are intitled, may be expressed in a very few words. If the arrangements be clear, the explanations perspicuous, and the whole calculated to exhibit a satisfactory view of the subject, the design of the author may be said to be accomplished, and the expectation of the reader gratified. With regard to the publication before us, if we see no striking beauties to display, nor any great faults to expose, we may observe that it fulfils the purpose for which it was intended; viz. that of stating what is already known in science, in a clear and concise form. Indeed, it is but justice to acknowlege that we have found in it a considerable mass of information, collected with judgment and perspicuously disposed.

The supplementary part contains several mathematical principles and propositions; which, independently of reference and application, would be useful and interesting, but which are here also calculated to facilitate the comprehension of the preceding treatise.

INDEX.

To the REMARKABLE PASSAGES in this Volume.

N. B. To find any particular Book, or Pamphlet, see the
Table of Contents, prefixed to the Volume.