treasures of learning or acquired knowledge, but clear, vigorous, and comprehenfive, was thrown into the fituation for which his talents were peculiarly adapted. He was one of the favoured few who, called into action with popular opinion highly in his favour, never forfeited it, and retired to private life without a ftain on his abilities or his integrity. Mr. Washington was fcarcely ever in action, without an imputation on his courage: he retired to his farm without even accepting a compenfation for his expences, impoverished rather than enriched by many years command. We fhall follow our author in his defcription of the general in his retirement.

The virtuous fimplicity which diftinguishes the private life of general Washington, though less known than the dazzling splendour of his military atchievements, is not lefs edifying in example, or worthy the attention of his countrymen. The confpicuous character he has acted on the theatre of human affairs, the uniform dignity with which he fustained his part amidst difficulties of the most difcouraging nature, and the glory of having arrived through them at the hour of triumph, have made many official and literary perfons, on both fides of the ocean, ambitious of a correfpondence with him. These correfpondencies unavoidably engrofs a great portion of his time; and the communications contained in them, combined with the numerous periodical publications and newspapers which he perufes, renders him, as it were, the focus of political intelligence for the new world. Nor are his converfations with well-informed men lefs conducive to bring him acquainted with the various events which happen in different countries of the globe. Every foreigner of distinction, who travels in America, makes it a point to visit him. Members of Congress, and other dignified perfons, do not pafs his houfe, without calling to pay their refpects. As another fource of information it may be mentioned, that many literary productions are sent to him annually by their authors in Europe; and that there is scarcely one work written in America on any art, fcience, or fubje&t, which does not feek his protection, or which is not offered to him as a token of gratitude. Mechanical inventions are frequently fubmitted to him for his approbation, and natural curiofities prefented for his investigation. But the multiplicity of epistolary applications, often on the remains of fome bufinefs which happened when he was commander in chief, fometimes on fubjects foreign to his fituation, frivolous in their nature, and intended merely to gratify the vanity of the writers by drawing anfwers from him, is truly diftreffing, and almost incredible. His benignity in answering, perhaps, increases the number. Did he not husband every mement to the best advantage, it would not be in his power to no

tice the vast variety of fubjects that claim his attention. Here a minuter defcription of his domeftic life may be expected.

To apply a life at best but short, to the most useful purposes, he lives, as he ever has done, in the unvarying habits of regularity, temperance, and industry. He rifes, in winter as well as fummer, at the dawn of day; and generally reads or writes fome time before breakfaft. He breakfatts about feven o'clock, on three fmall Indian hoe-cakes, and as many dishes of tea. He rides immediately to his different farms, and remains with his labourers until a little past two o'clock, when he returns and dreffes. At three he dines, commonly on a single dish, aud drinks from half a pint to a pint of Madeira wine. This, with one fmall glass of punch, a draught of beer, and two dishes of tea (which he takes half an hour before fun fetting) conftitutes his whole fuftenance until the next day. Whether there be company or not, the table is always prepared by its elegance and exuberance for their reception; and the general remains at it for an hour after dinner, in familiar converfation and convivial hilarity. It is then that every one present is called upon to give fome abfent friend as a toaft; the name not unfrequently awakens a pleafing remembrance of past events, and gives a new turn to the animated colloquy. General Washington is more chearful than he was in the army. Although his temper is rather of a serious caft, and his countenance commonly carries the impreffion of thoughtfulness, yet he perfectly relishes a pleafant ftory, an unaffected fally of wit, or a burlefque defcription, which furprises by its fuddennefs and incongruity, with the ordinary appearance of the object defcribed. After this fociable and innocent relaxation, he applies himself to business, and about nine o'clock retires to reft. This is the rou tine, and this the hour he obferves, when no one but his family is prefent; at other times he attends politely upon his company until they wish to withdraw. Notwithstanding he has no offspring, his actual family confifts of eight perfons. It is feldom alone. He keeps a pack of hounds, and in the feafon indulges himself with hunting once a week; at which diverfion the gentlemen of Alexandria often affift.'

This sketch of biography is contained in the notes, and we find fimilar eulogies of Montgomery, Green, and La Fayette. The different tates of America comprehended in the volume before us, are New England, including New Hampshire, Masfahusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont, New York, New Jerfey, Penfylvania, Delaware State, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, confifting of lands on the Ohio, of which the only prefent State is Kentucky, belonging to Virginia; North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the lands ityled

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the Western Territory. These are particularly described, and the account is equally full, clear, and comprehenfive. A short account of the British, Portuguese, and Spanish dominions in America, of the different kingdoms of Europe, of Asia and Africa; are subjoined. All, except what relates to the United States, is, however, chiefly a fhort abridgment.

In the different accounts, Mr. Morfe has particularly availed himself of whatever has been publifhed, and had access to fuch authentic documents and private information, as an European would in vain attempt to procure. Much of what he fays is already known, and we shall conclude our article with a fhort account of Kentucky and the western territory, as less known to the English reader.

Kentucky lies to the north of North Carolina, and has on its north-weft the Ohio, one of the vaft rivers of Western America, which yields only to the Miffifippi and the river St. LawIt is minutely interfected with numerous leffer rivers, generally navigable by boats, refting on a lime-ftone rock.

rence.

This country in general is well timbered. Of the natural growth which is peculiar to this country, we may reckon the fugar, the coffee, the papaw, and the cucumber-tree. The two Taft are a foft wood, and bear a fruit of the fhape and size of a cucumber. The coffee-tree refembles the black oak, and bears a pod, which enelofes good coffee. Befides thefe there is the honey-locuft, black mulberry, wild cherry, of a large fize, buckeye, an exceedingly foft wood-the magnolia, which bears a beautiful bloffom of a rich and exquifite fragrance. Such is the va riety and beauty of the flowering fhrubs and plants which grow fpontaneously in this country, that in the proper feafon the wil derness appears in bloffom.

The accounts of the fertility of the foil in this country have, in fome inftances, exceeded belief; and probably have been exaggerated. That fome parts of Kentucky, particularly the high grounds, are remarkably good, all accounts agree. The lands of the first rate are too rich for wheat, and will produce 50 and 60, and in fome inftances, it is affirmed, 100 bushels of good corn, an acre. In common, the land will produce 30 bushels of wheat of rye an acre. Barley, oats, cotton, flax, hemp, and vegetables of all kinds common in this climate, yield abundantly. The old Virginia planters fay, that if the climate does not prove too moift, few foils known will yield more and better tobacco.

In the rivers are plenty of buffalo and catfish of uncommon fize, falmon, mullet rock, perch, garfish, eel, fuckers, funfish, &c.--Trout, fhad, and herrings have not been caught in the western waters.

Swamps are rare in Kentucky; and of course the reptiles

which they produce, fuch as fnakes, frogs, &c. are not numerous. The honey-bee may be called a domeftic infect, as it is not found but in civilifed countries, This is confirmed by a faying which is faid to be common among the Indians, when they fee a fwarm of bees in the woods, well, brothers, it is time for us to decamp, for the white people are coming.'

The climate is faid to be healthy, the heat and cold moderate. The population eftimated at 100,000. Near Lexington, its chief town, are faid to be curious fepulchres full of human skeletons' and near that spot, a man having dug five or fix feet below the furface, is reported to have met with a 'large flat ftone, under which was a well of common depth, regularly and artificially ftoned.' Thefe facts ought to have been more clearly stated and better afcertained. It is neceffary to add, that this place is fomewhat to the north, and a little to the eaft of the fuppofed Welsh colony, under Madoc.

The Weftern territory comprehends that part of the United States to the north-west of the Ohio, and to the east of the Miffifippi. But little of the land is yet purchased from the Indians; and the whole population, independent of the Indians, does not probably exceed 6000 fouls. The very flattering accounts of the fertility of this country, from an anony→ mous pamphlet, appear fufpicious from many circumstances. We fhall only tranferibe the short defcription of the forts, of ten mentioned, which, if accurate, show that this part of America was once inhabited by a warlike and enlightened race; but on these points even conjecture is at a lofs,

Antiquities and Curiofities.] The number of old forts in the Kentucky country are the admiration of the curious, and a matter of much fpeculation. They are moftly of a circular form, fituated on trong, well-chofen ground, and contiguous to water, When, by whom, and for what purpose, these were thrown up, is uncertain. They are certainly very ancient, as there is not the leaft visible difference in the age or fize of the timber growing on or within thefe forts, and that which grows without; and the oldest natives have lost all tradition refpecting them. They must have been the efforts of a people much more devoted to labour than our present race of Indians; and it is difficult to conceive how they could be conftructed without the ufe of iron tools. At a convenient diftance from thefe always ftands a fmall mount of earth, thrown up in the form of a pyramid, and feems in fome measure proportioned to the fize of its adjacent fortification. On examination, they have been found to contain a chalky fubftance, fuppofed to be bones, and of the human kind.

On an extenfive plain, or, as the French term it parara, be

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tween Poft St. Vincent and Cufcufco river, is what is called the battle ground, where the Siack and Cufcufco Indians fought a defperate battle, in which about 800 were killed on each fide, On this fpot, the ground for two miles is covered with skulls and other human bones.'

In the Appendix are fome notes of no great importance. The most interesting is a calculation of the inhabitants of the United States, which amount to very near four millions.

The Hiftory of Rome, from the Foundation of the City by Romulus, to the Death of Marcus Antoninus. 3 Vols. 8vo. 18s. Boards. Cadell. 1792.

THE Hiftorian of the Roman Empire must be left without

a rival; but, while we follow his admirable narrative, wę are led to regret that it commences in the middle of a varied and fplendid scene; that we fee Rome in full majefty and power, without being able to afcertain the causes of the one, and the fources of the other. The fame circumftance diminishes the merit of the historian: the author may be correct in tracing the events to their origin, but the reader, ignorant of the clue, may confider the imputed fource as vifionary; or, unacquainted with the characters and fituation of the actors, may condemn that as improbable, which arofe from the beft motives and the most accurate reafoning. Thefe caufes muft render the Hiftory of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire lefs interesting; and, though the English reader is not without refources, they are not fuch as either in the scope and conduct will properly prepare the way for Mr. Gibbon's lu minous narrative. The hiftory of Rollin is merely introductory; that of Montefquieu, for each has been tranflated, a sketch, bold, animated, and comprehenfive, but too concife for general readers, and not fufficiently full to introduce them to the perfonages of the more interesting scenes, or the fituation and circumftances of the government. Mr. Hooke's Roman History is an extenfive and claffical work; laboured, heavy, and unaffecting, but accurate and clear. Dr. Fergufon's Hiftory of the Progrefs and Termination of the Roman Republic deferves much commendation; but, while he confines himself to the great revolution of the government from republicanifm to defpotifm, he steps haftily over the more early periods, and incurs the fame difadvantages we have imputed to Mr. Gibbon's Hiftory. Still we may be allowed to add, that a history of the first monarchy of Rome, and the early periods of the republie, connected with Dr. Fergufon's Hiftory, and written with the fame ability, perfpicuity, and accuracy, would probably have connected the feveral links more