France and Austria, the two grand military routes of the Simplon and the Valteline. The Discourse on the Philosophy of History was an anniversary academical oration, delivered at Midsummer, 1814, that season of joy and gratulation, when it was fondly believed that the storms and tumult of Europe had subsided at length into a permanent state of tranquillity and light. When this delightful assurance, combined with the enthusiastic recollections of Swiss and Genevan history, and the influence of all the beauty and sublimity with which, at that season of the year, Nature surrounds and actually deluges the susceptible mind of an inhabitant of Geneva-when all this was acting on a spirit like that of M. Sismondi, it is not wonderful that he should proclaim with eloquent energy the doctrine previously held by him with deliberate conviction, that the state of mankind, taken comprehensively, has at all times been, is now, and must ever continue to be, progressive in knowledge, virtue, and happiness. The Discourse is mainly a retrospect of facts, as bearing on this doctrine; it is a rapid glance over a vast extent of history. In this review he does not decline to notice the obvious instances of retrogradation in the intellectual, civil, and moral condition of large portions of the human race in some periods of history; but he ingeniously sets against these the more than countervailing progress made by other nations during the same period, and the benefits sometimes resulting, in unexpected ways, from the deterioration itself. In making out this great account, he is sometimes willing to accept things at a value which a more severely religious estimator would scruple to allow. Thus, we may question whether any vast practical_advantage was gained to mankind, by the advancement of Pagan theology from the sensible imagery of the Greeks to the more abstracted and elevated conceptions of the Romans-more intimately combined as he observes these conceptions were with morality: but were the Romans, therefore, much more moral than the Greeks? Nor can we feel any very lively gratification in beholding the disciples of Islam supplanting the grosser superstitions of polytheism by even the creed of one God, debased as that truth is by its association with the 'detestable superstitions and the malignant spirit to which they have made it subservient. And even after all the improvements that have accumulated on Christendom itself, and notwithstanding that our Author firmly asserts that the present generation is wiser and more virtuous than any preceding one, he is compelled to acknowledge that we have witnessed crimes not less frightful' than any recorded in history. Nevertheless, he does open before us a splendid array of · progressive grand improvements in the state of the human acted?how did she act? Her name was protection to the Protestants, and a message from Cromwell could effect more, it should seem, than the sword of Wellington. But now, the Allies, the conquerors of France, England, the restorer of the Bourbons, may not dictate to France an adherence to her own treaties. Is it that England is no longer feared, or feared only in the field? That respect for the wisdom and energy of her councils, has declined in proportion as the fame of her armies has risen? Or has the sincerity of her attachment to the Reformed faith become suspected, since, after an interval of above two hundred years, a Nuncio from the Pope has again been admitted to the audience of an English potentate! It is not the Catholics of France only, that have begun to take courage, but, if we may credit unoffi cial statements, the King of Sardinia has proceeded to revoke a grant enjoyed by the Vaudois ever since the time of Cromwell; the sovereigns of petty vassal states, and his most contemptible Holiness himself, dare now to insult a Protestant nation by acts of aggression on their unoffending Protestant subjects! ART. XVI. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION. Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the press, will oblige the Conductors of the ECLECTIC REVIEW, by sending Information (post paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works; which they may depend upon being communicated to the Public, if consistent with its plan. John Stewart, Esq, author of the Resurrection, and other poems, has an extensive Metrical Romance in such a state of forwardness, that it will appear in the course of the winter. Dr. Cogan is preparing for the press, Ethical Questions, or Speculations upon the principal subjects of controversy in Moral Philosophy. It will form an octavo volume, and may be considered as supplementary to his work on the Passions. Captain Beaufort is preparing for the press, a concise Account of the PreBent State of the Southern Coast of Asia Minor, where he was employed in one of his Majesty's frigates. Mr. and Miss Edgeworth will soon publish Readings on Poetry, a work for young people. Essays on the advantages of Revelation, 'the rewards of Eternity, &c. &c. by the late Rev. Joseph Whitely,' master of the Free Grammar School, Leeds, are printing in an octavo volume. In the Press. Precursory Proofs that Israelites came from Egypt into Ireland, and that the Druids expected the Mes siah; with an account of the presen religious tenets of the Irish nation, and their endeavours for the attainment of general religious freedom. By Joseph Ben Jacob. The Author of Travels at Home is preparing a sixth volume of that work, which will contain a survey of England. In the press, the Origin of Pagan IdoTatry, ascertained from historical testi"mony and circumstantial evidence. By the Rev. G. S. Faber, Rector of Long Newton, Yarmouth. This work will be handsomely printed in three quarto volumes, price to subscribers six guineas, and will be ready for delivery to thém "on the 1st of February, 1816. Subscriptions will continue to be received until the 13th of January, after which the price will be advanced. Mr. T. D. Fosbrooke, author of the History of Gloucestershire, has in the -press, a new and much enlarged edition of British Monachism, or Manners and Customs of the Monks and Nuns of • England, in a quarto volume, with plates of costumes. Mr. Parkes has nearly ready, a new edition, greatly improved, of his Chemical Catechism. Mr. Elton is printing an improved edition of his Translation of Hesiod, uniform with his Specimens of the Clas sic Poets. Mr. Storer has just completed the 14th Part of his Geographical and His torical Description of the Cathedrals of Great Britain. Parts 15 and 16 are intended for publication early in the year. These will complete the second volume, comprising the descriptions of Peterborough, Lincoln, Oxford, Winchester, Canterbury, Chichester, Salisbury, Gloucester, Hereford, Chester, Worcester, Litchfield, and Rochester. In the press, a selection of valuable Letters of the Rev. James Hervey, from the different volumes published since his death, together with some original ones, in one volume $vo. The first Part of W. Woolnoth's Graphical Illustration of the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Canterbury, is now ready for delivery to Subscribers and the Public. It is accompanied by a history and description of that venerable fabric, forming in itself a History of English Architecture, from the glimmering dawn of Saxon effort until it reached its zenith in the tasteful pro ductions of Chillenden or of Goldstone. This portion is submitted to the Public' as a fair specimen of the whole Work, which will form a handsome volume in 4to. containing 20 very highly finished platės. Gulzara, Princess of Persia, or the Virgin Queen, a work collected from the original Persian, will appear this month. In the press, and will be published in February, by Steven and Frazer, Booksellers, Glasgow, a volume of Sermons on important practical and doctrinal subjects. By the Rev. Dr. Dick, of Glasgow. In the press, and speedily will be published by John Kirk and Co. Glasgow, a Complete Common-place Book to the Holy Bible, or a Scriptural Account of the Faith and Practice of Christians. In one vol. 8vo. price 11s. By Hugh Galston. In a few days will be published for the use of schools, a new and supérior edition of Robinson Crusoe, both volumes complete in one thick duodecimo, embellished with six beautiful engravings. Art. XVII. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED. ANTIQUITIES. The History and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury. Illustrated by thirty-one engravings. By John Britton, F. S. A. mediam 4to. 31. 3s. imperial 4to. 51. 5s. cr. folio, 81. and super folio, 111. No. I. of the History and Antiquities of Norwich Cathedral. The volume to be completed in June, and to comprise 24 engravings. Note, historical and descriptive, of the Priory of Inohmahome, with introductory Verses and an Appendix of original Papers. Illustrated by a Map and five beautiful etchings. 4to. 11. 11s. 6d. boards. BIOGRAPHY. Lives of Topographers and Autiquaries, who have written concerning the Antiquities of England; with twentysix portraits of the authors, and a complete list of their Works, so far as they relate to the Topography of this Kingdom; together with a list of Portraits, Monuments, Views, and other Prints, contained in each Work, with remarks that may enable the Collector to know when the works are complete. By J. P. Malcolm, Esq. F. S. A. royal 4to.. 21. 12s. 6d. boards; and in imperial 4to. 41. 4s. Memoirs of Alessandro Tassoni, author of la Secchia Rapita, or the Rape of the Bucket; interspersed with occa sional notices of his literary contemporaries, and a general outline of his various works. Also an Appendix, containing biographical sketches of Ottavio Rinuccini, Galileo Galilei, Gabriello Chiabrera, Battista Guarini; and an inedited Poem of Torquato Tasso. With additional Notes, and the author's preface. By the late Joseph Cooper Walker, Esq. M. R. I. A. Honorary Member of the Societies of Dublin and Perth, and of the Academies of Cortona, Rome, Florence, &c. Edited by Samuel Walker, Esq. M. R. I. A. A Biographical Dictionary of all Living Authors, Male and Female, of the British Empire, with a complete List of their Works, chronologically arranged: 8vo. 14s, boards. BOTANY, A Continuation of the Flora LondiBensis, or History of the Plants indigenous to Great Britain; with figures of the natural size, and magnified dissections of the parts of fructification, &c. accompanied with observations illustra tive of their history, peculiar qualities, and uses in agriculture, rural economy, medicine, and commerce. The Descriptions in Latin and English by William Jackson Hooker, Esq. F. R. A. and L. S, Member of the Wernerian Society, &c. &c. Part I. royal folio, price 10s. plain, and 16s. coloured. *** The Old Series, an enlarged edition, by G. Graves, F. L. S. is repub lishing in Parts, monthly, and Parts I. to VIII. may now be had. A few copies of both series are printed on imperial drawing paper, price 11. 11s, 6d. each. EDUCATION. An Introduction to the Knowledge and Classification of Insects, in a Series of familiar Letters, with illustrative engravings. By Priscilla Wakefield. 12mo. 5s. boards. Ladies' Astronomy, translated from the French of Jerome de Lalande. By Mrs. W. Pengree. 18mo. 3s. boards. Domestic Pleasures, or the Happy Fire-side; illustrated by interesting Conversations. By Francis B. Vaux, 12mo. 4s. 6d. boards. The History of Little Davy's New Hat, in 18mo. 2s. half-bound, Esopi Fabula Selectæ, with English Notes, for the Use of Schools; with English Fables, selected from Croxall's Esop, and intended as first Exercises for translating into Latin. By E. H. Barker, of Trinity College, Cambridge. 9. bound. - Elemens de la Grammaire Françoise. A Grammar of the French Language from the best authorities, on a new plan; designed to prepare the Learner for conversing in French, and calculated to abridge the time usually spent in ac~~ quiring that accomplishment. By Ph. Lebreton, M.A. Late of Exeter College, Oxford; and Master of the Academy in Poland-street. 2s. bound. HISTORY. Select Tracts relating to the Civil Wars in England, in the reign of king Charles the First, by writers who lived in the Time of those Wars, and were witnesses of the events which they describe. Collected by Francis Maseres, Esq. F.R.S. Cursitor Baron of the Court of Exchequer. 2 vols. royal 8vo. 11, 8s. boards. The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time, with an account of the Religion, Government, Usages, and Character of the Inhabitants of that Kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, K. C. B. and K. L. S. late Minister to the Court of Persia from the Supreme Government of India. 2 vols. royal 4to. with a map and 21 plates. 81. 8s. bds. Imp. 4to. 121. 12s. Volume the second of the History of England. By Sharon Turner, F.S.A. Containing the History of the Reigns of Edward I. Edward IL Edward III. Richard II. Henry IV. and Henry V. Also the History of Religion in England, the History of English Poetry, and of the English Language and Prosé Literature. 4to, 21. 2s. boards. The History of Oswestry, from its foundation by the Britons in the fourth century to the present time; with an account of the Seats, Antiquities, &c. in the Neighbourhood. With engra. vings, &c. 8vo. 7s. 6d. boards. LAW, Clarke's Law Pocket Book, for the year 1816; neatly bound, with pocket and tuck. 6s. Considerations on the Propriety of making a Remuneration to Witnesses in Civil Actions, for loss of Time; and of allowing the same on the taxation of Costs, as between party and party. With some Observations on the present system of taxing Costs. By Charles Frost, of Hall, Attorney at Law. 8vo. 2s. 6d. MISCELLANEOUS. The Present of a Mistress to a young Servant, consisting of friendly Advice, and Real Histories. By Mrs. Taylor of Ongar. 12mo. 3s. 6d. boards. Volume the First, Part I. of the Supe plement to the Encyclopædia Britanniea; with a Preliminary Dissertation, exhibiting a General View of the Proress of Metaphysical, Ethical, audPolitical Philosophy, since the Revival of Letters in Europe. By Dugald Stewart, Esq. F.R.S. London and Edin, burgh. Illustrated by Fifteen Plates, 11. 58. boards. POETRY. Jonah, the Seatonian Prize Poem for the year 1815, By the Rev. J. W. Bellamy, M. A. of Queen's College, Cambridge, 8vo. 3s. 6d, |