from time to time to their General. Of Fontenelle they had written, "Adolefcens, omnibus numeris abfoJutus, & inter Difcipulos Princeps." The character of Crebillon, the Dramatic Writer, they thus defined: "Puer ingeniofus fed infignis uebulo." How little, indeed, do our Moderns pretend to do, but to drive a little Latin and Greck into their scholars, without taking any pains to fathom their cha. racter, or appreciate their faculties. How few have the honefty to tell the parent, as a celebrated Schoolmaster of our times told the father of one of his pupils "You had better take away your fon from my fchool, and bring him up to your own bufinefs, that of a broker, for he will never make a fcholar." Horace had indeed faid long before him, "Sincerum eft nifi vas, quodcunque infundis acefcit.'! The veffei foil'd, the pureft wine turns four. Montaigne fays after him, "Learning is a moft valuable drug, but it ton often partakes of the taste of the veffel into which it is poured." DUKE OF ORLEANS, REGENT OF M. Du Grange had written a very abufive poem upon the Regent; it was called "Les Philippiques," and indeed accufed him of every thing that was bad. The Duke had him thut up in the Bastile, and foon afterwards fent for him, and asked him, whether in his confcience he believed him guilty of the crimes he had attributed to him? La Grange affured him, that he really thought he was. "It is well for you, Sir," replied the Regent, "that you thought fo, otherwife I would have had you hung up immediately." The Regent informed his infant Sovereign of every thing that related to his Government with great fidelity. "I will hide nothing from you, Sir," faid he to him one day, "not even your own faults." LOUIS XVI. During the course of the mock trial of this well-intentioned and excellent Prince, many abfurd and impertinent queftions were put to him; amongst the reft, he was asked by one of his unfeeling Judges, what he had done with a certain fum of money (a few thoufand pounds), of which he was known to have been lately in poffeffion? The King topped a few moments, and, with his eyes fuffufed in tears, replied, in a faint tone of voice, "J'aimais a faire des heureux, I had a pleasure in allevi. ating the distresses of others." MARSHAL TURENNE, walking one day along the streets of Paris, obferved a little boy following fo nearly the heels of a horse, that he was in danger of being kicked by him. He called the child, and said to him, "My pretty little boy, never go fo near to a horfe's heels as not to leave fpace enough between them and your. felf to prevent his kicking you. I affure you, that in the course of your whole life my advice will not make you walk half a mile farther than you other. wife would have done; and remember that it is M. de Turenne who gives you this advice." This great and good man, dining one day with M. de Lamoigne, was asked by him, if his courage was not fometimes a little fhaken at the beginning of an action? Yes, Sir," replied M. de Turenne; "I affure you I often experience a great deal of agitation of mind on the occafion; but there are in the army a great many fubaltern officers and private foldiers who fuffer nothing of the kind." FREDERIC THE SECOND, KING OF PRUSSIA. The coachman of this Prince having one day overturned him, Frederic was in a violent paflion. "Sire," faid the coachman, "it was an accident; and pray has your Majesty never loft a batthe " 66 A flatterer was one day telling Prince Henry of Pruffia, how much his brother, as Sovereign of Neufchatel, was beloved in that country: "I am not at all furprized at it." replied the Prince, "he lives at the diftance of eight hundred miles from his fubjects A French author fays, that Frederic having written a letter to fome perfon of confequence in France, in which he had made pretty free with fome confti. tutional defects of the reigning Sultana of that day, Madame de Pompadour, and with Cardinal (then Abbé) de Bernis's poetry, they made a common caufe of the injuries they fuppofed had been done to their reputation, and procured the unhappy War of 1756 to take place. ‹‹ Evitez de Bernis la ferile abondar.ce."-Avoid the barren fuperfluity of Bernis. THE LONDON REVIEW AND LITERARY JOURNAL, FOR MARCH 1797. Quid fit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non. The Voyage of Nearchus from the Indus to the Euphrates; collected from the Original Journal, preferved by Arrian, and illuftrated by Authorities Ancient and Modern; containing an Account of the firft Navigation attempted by Europeans in the Indian Ocean. By William Vincent, D. D. To which are added Three Differtations; Two on the Achronychal Rifing of the Pleiades, by the Right Reverend Dr. Samuel Horfley, Lord Bishop of Rochester, and by Mr. William Wales, Mafter of the Mathematical School in Chrift's Hofpital; and one by Mr. De la Rochette, on the First Meridian of Ptolemy. T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, Strand. 1797. 4to. 11. 78. Boards. T HIS learned enquiry into a very recondite queftion of ancient geography will fcarcely be confidered as a proper subject for criticifm in a popular Mifcellany. There is another reafon which would induce us to forbear a minute inveftigation of it. A very skilful Eaftern geographer is about to publish the refult of refearches relative to the fame country; and till Major Rennell has declared an opinion either confirming or contradicting Dr. Vincent's Conclufions, it would be presumption in us to agitate this quef tion. On the fubject of the authenticity of the Journal of Nearchus, we think with Dr. Vincent, that the Enchanted land of which he fpeaks, and the miraculous origin of the Icibyophagi, cannot be conGdered as impeaching his veracity. His own belief in these wonders, which, however, he seems not to have implicitly given, is no evidence of local ignorance, or prefumption of falfehood. The mode of procuring a fupply of water on the Coaft of Makran, by opening pits upon ibe beach, which prevailed in the days of Alexander according to Nearchus, and is alfo the refort of the modern navigator, outweighs a thoufand arguments against the general truth of his narration, derived from the ignorance or the vanity of the historian. The two learned Differtations at the clofe of the work, by the Bishop and Mr. Wales, whatever be their acutenefs of tronological research, might, for any VOL. XXXI, MARCH 1797. important purpose that can be answered by this work, quite as well have been omitted. They both prove, by different modes of elaborate mathematical inves tigation, what our Author might have found, if he had fought for it, in the Latin edition of Uber's Ephemeris. Whether this was any very important difficulty, the Reader will be the better able to judge when we inform him, that it was to fettle whether the departure of the fleet of Nearchus from its firft ftation was on the first or second of October! It is hereafter to be confidered, by the learned, as fixed for the first. Though it be very true, that much of this volume is employed in difquifitions in which few will be anxious for accurate information, yet there are to be found in it feveral interefting biftorical facts, and feveral curious critical obfervations. The character of Alexander, which is very juftly drawn, exhibits him not only as an irrefiftible conqueror, but as a profound and prescient politician. His conduct towards the countries he fubdued; his plan for the foundation of the andria of Egypt; and the scheme of that navigation, which is the fubject of the work before us, are evidences of this which no reafoning can fubvert. bring the wealth and commerce of the Indies within the reach of his European fubjects, by the intervention of the Perfian Gulph, was an undertaking not merely of unexampled magnanimity, but of uncommon fagacity and difcernment. 2 ex To The The greateft difficulty arofe from the choice of a proper perfon to conduct to new and perilous an enterprize. The voluntary offer made of his fervices to Alexander by the Author of the JOURNAL removed every delay and obftruction. The men destined to the embarkation no longer confidered the expedition as desperate, when they found a man fo much in the king's favour and confidence was to be the commander; and one whom they knew he would not have expofed to inevitable danger. Alacrity fucceeded to terror: the thips were equipped, not only with what was neceflary, but with great fplendor, the officers vying with each other who fhould collect the beft men for the fervice, and have his complement most effective. Succefs was anticipated, and despair subdued.” The circumstances that occurred to Nearchus on his coming to land on the fleet's arrival at the mouth of the Anamis, and on his firft interview with the King, are interesting and pathetic. "One of the parties he fent out to plore the country accidentally fell in with a fraggler, whofe drefs and language difcovered him to be a Greek; tears burst from their eyes upon feeing once more a native of their own country, and hearing once more the found of their own language. They learnt that he had not long left the army, and that the camp was at no great diftance. They inftantly hurried the ftranger with all the tumult of joy to Nearchus; in his prefence the fame happy difcovery was repeated, with alfurances that the King was within five days journey. edly," fays Archias, "this must be a party sent out for our relief: for on what other account can they be wandering about the defert? There is nothing ftrange in their paffing us without notice, for cur very appearance is a difguife. Let us addrefs them once more." "Nearchus accordingly enquired which way they were bending their courfe? "We are in fearch of Nearchus and his people," replied the Officer :-"And I am Nearchus," faid the Admiral," and this is Archias; take us under your conduct, and we will ourselves report our history to the King." "While they were upon their progrefs, fome of the horsemen, impatient to carry the news of this happy event, fet off to inform the King, that Nearchus and Archias were arrived, with five or fix attendants. This fuggefted to Alexander, that the reft of the people had perished, either by famine or fhipwreck. During this interval, Nearchus and his attendants arrived. It was not without dithex-culty that the King difcovered who they were, under the difguife of their appeurance; and this circumftance contributed to confirm him in his mistake; imagining that both their perfons and their drefs bespoke fhipwreck, and the deftruction of the fleet. He held out his hand however to Nearchus, and led him atide from his guards and attendants, without being able to utter a word. As foon as they were alone he burst into tears, and continucd weeping for a confiderable time; till at length recovering, in fome degree, his compofure, "Nearchus," fays he, "I feel fome fatisfaction in finding that you and Archias have efcaped; but tell me where, and in what manner, did my fleet and my people perifh ?"-"Your fleet," replied Nearchus, "is all fafe; your people are fafc, and we are come to bring you the account of their prefervation." Tears, but from a different fource, now feil much fafter from his eyes: "Where then are my fhips?" fays he. "At the Anamis," replied Nearchus, "all fate on thore, and preparing for the comple tion of the voyage."" By the Libyan Ammon and the Jupiter of Greece I fwear to you," rejoined the King, "that I am more happy at receiving this intelligence than in being the conqueror of all Afia; for I fhould have confidered the failure of this expedition as a counterbalance to all the glory I have acquired." "Nearchus immediately fet out to find the King, with Archias and five or fix others; and in his progrefs fortunately fell in with a party from the army, which had been fent out with horfes and carriages for his accommodation. The Admiral and his attendants, from their appearance, might have pafled unnoticed. Their hair long and neglected, their garments decayed, their countenance pale and weather-worn, and their perfons emaciated with famine and fatigue, fcarcely roufed the attention of the friends they kered. They were Greeks however; and of Greeks it was natural to enquire after the army, and where it was now encamped. An anfwer was given to their enquiry; but ftill they were neither recognized by the party, nor was any question asked in return. ́ Just as they were feparating from each other, “Affur "Such was the reception of the Admirak-The joy was now univerfal through the 14 army; a folemn facrifice was proclaimed in honour of Jupiter the Preferver, of Hercules, of Apollo the Averter of Deftruction, of Neptune, and of every deity of the ocean; the games were celebrated, and a splendid proceffion exhibited, in which Nearchus was the principal ornament of the pomp, and the object which claimed the attention of every eye. Flow. ers and chaplets were, wreathed for his head, and fhowered upon him by the grateful multitude, while the fuccefs of his enterprize was proclaimed by their Acclamations, and celebrated in their longs." The particulars of the laft fickness and death of Alexander, as related in his Diary, and handed down to us both by Plutarch and Arrian, are curious. They contain a fufficient refutation of the vulgar opinion that this hero perished by poiion. It appears that Alexander had given a fplendid entertainment to Nearchus and bis Officers; at the conclufion of which, as he was returning to his palace, he was met by Medius, who had been feafting a party of his military friends, and now requelted the favour of the King's company to do honour at the banquet. That night and the following day were spent in feltivity; and it is not extraordinary that fome fymptoms of fever were the confequences of this excefs. The Diary commences here. "Month Dæfius 18th. The King bathed, and, finding the fever upon the increase, flept at the bathing-houfe. ("The fleeping at the bathing-houfe is explained by Arrian, who ftates, that he was conveyed on his bed to the river fide, and carried over to a garden-houfe on the oppofite fhore.) "On this day orders were illued for the land-forces to be ready to march on the 22d, and the fleet to be prepared to move on the 23d. 19th. The King bathed; went from the Bath to his chamber; pafled the day at dice with Medius; bathed again in the evening, attended the facrifices in a litter; took nourishment paringly; in the evening the fever increated; and the night was paffed in great perturbation; orders were iffued for the officers to attend en the next morning. "20th. The King bathed; attended facrifices as before; converfed while in the Bath with Nearchus upon his voyage from India, and gave him frefh orders to be ready on the 23d. "21t. The King bathed; attended the facrifices in the inorning; found no abatement of the diforder; tranfacted butincts with the Officers; gave directions about the fleet; bathed again in the evening; the fever ftill increated. "22d. The King removed into an apartment near the Bath; attended the facrifices; the fever now ran very high, and oppreffed him much; he nevertheles ordered the principal Officers to attend, and repeated his orders in regard to the fleet. 23d. The King was conveyed to the facrifices with great difficulty; but iffued fresh orders to the Naval Officers, and converfed about filling up the vacancies in the army. "24th. The King was much more oppreffed, and the fever much increased. "25th. The King was now finking faft under the diforder, but iffued frem orders for the Generals to attend in the palace, and the Officers of rank to be in waiting at the gate. He fuffered ftill more towards the evening, and was conveyed back again over the river from the garden to the palace. Here he obtained a fhort repofe; but, upon his awaking, when the Generals were admitted, though he retained his fenfes and knew them, he had loft the power of utterance. "26th. The fever had made a rapid progreis all night, and continued without abating during the day. "27th. The foldiers now clamorously demanded to be admitted, wishing to fee their Sovereign once more if he were alive, and fulpecting that he was dead and his death concealed. They were fuffered therefore to pafs through the apartment in fingle files without arms, and the King raited his head with difficulty, holding out his hand to them, but could not speak. "28th. In the evening the King expired." This Journal, which fo regularly records the progrefs of Alexander's malady, fufficiently proves that the notion of his having been deftroyed by treachery is a conjecture without foundation. Plutarch entirely difcredits the story; and adds, that it was not heard of till fome years after, when Olympias wished to caft odium on the family of Antipater. Dr. V. very juftly obferves, "that the violence of Alexander's paffions, the perpetual application of his mind, and the exceffes of the table, are fully fufficient to furnish caufes of diffolution, without having recourfe to treason and confpiracy.' In the Notes to this work there occur Occafionally thort clallical remarks, from which may be gleaned fome amufement and fome inftruction. At page 186, Dr. V. tells us, “that the Ha, or halfdecked vefiels of Nearchus, are exactly the vellels of Homer's age, the fore-part and wait open for the rowers, with a deck railed over the hinder part. This in Homer is called go, and formed an elevation on which the fteerfman ftood. On this deck, or under it, the perfons on board fometimes ilept: which the Poet calls fleeping raga mos Od. M. 32. For thefe, perhaps, the cables were coiled; but when a whole crew was to fleep on board, this was impoflible, and the fuffering was in proportion to the confinement. This makes Ulyffes complain, that restraint on hip-board rendered his limbs rigid, and unfit for gymnaftic exercife. He therefore," fays Dr. V. in another place (page 298), "never slept in the after-part of the thip, when he could find another bed. Πρυμνήσια are properly the cables at the ftern, but perhaps the after part of the vefiel like. wife; whether, when they flept on board, παρα πρυμνήσια they fept on the ικρίων, or under it, their lodging must have been very incommodious.' Our readers are not to conclude, from thefe fpecimens of Dr. V.'s work, which we have felected for their entertainment, that it is in general either critical or biftorical. It is in itrictness a minute geographical difquifition; and all the remarks that relate not to that fubject are occafional only, and incidental. Thofe, and those only, who are interested in knowing to what extent and with what accuracy the engraphical sciences were poffeffed by the ancients, will be much gratified by thefe lucubrations. Even fuch perfons can derive no delight from them, but in proportion as they shall ap pear to be founded in good fenfe, in oppolition to fable, hypothesis, and conjec ture. An Enquiry into the Duties of the Female Sex. R. R. By Thomas Gisborne, M. A, London. T. Cadell, Jun, and W. Davies, Strand. 1797. 8vo. 6s. Boards. THIS Thefe obfervations arife from a fincere refpe&t for Mr. G.'s abilities and intentions. We with, as we are fure he wishes, them to be univerfally beneficial; and he knows, as well as we, that this can only be accomplished by the fkilful admixture of the dulce with the utile. However arduous the talk, Mr.G. muft defire to have it faid, for a far better motiye than a reputation among mortals, Hic meret æra liber Sofiis, bic et mare iranfit, El longum noto fcriptori prorozat ævum. In treating on Female Education, Mr. G. difapproves of the employment of emulation to excite his fair pupils to diligence and exertion. He remarks, that whatever may be thought, by different obfervers, as to the degrees in which it enlarges the fum of intellectual attainments, yet among thofe who judge from experience, there can be but one opinion as to the refult of its operation on the dif pofitions of the heart. Of all the principles of action he accounts it as one of the most dangerous; ftimulating and nourishing fome of the darkeft paffions of the human mind, and fubverting thofe motives which it is one main purpofe of Christianity to inculcate and enforce. Self-conceit, a fupercilious contempt of perions fuppofed, and often falfely fuppofed, of inferior attainments; pronenefs to fufpect teachers of being prejudiced and partial, and endeavours to conciliate their favour by finelle; a fecret wish to retard the progrefs of fuccefsful competitors; an envious defire to detract from their merits; and an aver fion to their fociety, with an indifference to their welfare, are among its umal effects. He |