would, if fuccefsful, have cemented our connections in the North, oppofed a barrier to the ambition of Ruffia, and thereby have established the independence, and fecured the valuable commerce of Poland.

We must now turn to that ftill more interesting part of the work, which comprises the affairs of France; with the outline of which our readers are well acquainted. Yet they will here find many important, though lefs notorious, circumftances detailed, many obfcurities cleared, and many mistakes rectified. An inftance of the former kind occurs in the narrative of the proceedings of the Châtelet, tending to difcover the authors of the horrid fcenes at Verfailles, in October, 1789, and the confequent abolition of the jurifdi&tion of that court over cafes of high treafon. From the conduct of the popular focieties, the Municipalities, and the National Affembly, upon that occafion, the writer juftly infers, that "the different factions which then compofed the majority in those bodies, rendered themselves morally guilty of all the blood fo profufely fhed in that unhappy country." Highly interefting alfo is the fcene which paffed when the conftitutional oath (as it is called) was tendered to the bishops and clergy. The firmness and moderation which they displayed, is well contrafted with the rancorous and tyrannical conduct of their perfecutors.

It is impoffible, within the limits of this account, to trace all the features of the French Revolution, which are most ably delineated in the narrative before us. Such of our readers as are acquainted only with the outline, will find all the minuter parts filled up with great precifion and perfpicuity, On the diffolution of the National Affembly, the writer thus fums up its proceedings and character.

"The character of this famous affembly, than which none ever more raised the expectation, and fixed the attention of Europe, has been variously delineated, Many ftill hold its memory in refpect, who yet look with horror on the events which have followed in France. In truth, all its first proceedings were received with general favour in this country. Bred up in an ardent love of liberty, and too generous to envy others that blefling which they themselves enjoy, the people of England admired whatever came recommended to them by that fpecious name; and they were the more ready to take this im preffion, because, in a political view of attaching them more firmly to their own constitution, the old government of their rival and enemy France, was always painted to them in the darkeft colours, as a perfect contrast to their own limited monarchy. But used alfo to fee liberty connected with public order, they were, perhaps, the first nation that learned to form a fober eftimate of the French revolation. At this diftance of time, when, as fome of the principal actors in thofe feenes have fince confeffed, years have brought the experience of

ages,

ages, the impartial historian can find in it but little to praise. Undoubs edly, in abolishing every thing, the firft affembly abolished fome abufes, which had grown up during the long intermiffion of the statesgeneral, the ancient guardians of the rights and liberties of the people of France; but it must be remembered, that when the ftatcs-general once more met, most, if not all, of thofe abuses, had been quietly furrendered, or might have been fubmitted to an easy reformation. The clergy, in general, declared their willingness to give up their privilege of exemption from fome taxes, never fo unequal as they have been, fometimes ignorantly, and fometimes wickedly, defcribed; and the nobility in many places had concurred in the fame liberal fentiment. The legality of imprifoning the fubject by lettres de cachet, had been invariably and Steadily denied by the courts of juftice; and the king himself confented, that any regulations in that refpect fhould be made, which might be thought most expedient for the general good. He alfo agreed in a much more important principle, which would have been a fecurity for every thing from firit to laft he conftantly profeffed his conviction (and as he was uncommonly well verfed in the hiftory of his kingdom, he could not but have diftinctly known) that the controul of the public purfe belonged of right to the ftates-general. Had the chiefs of the affembly, in the first inftance, contented themselves with getting effectual and fure poffeffion of that falutary power; had they then practically examined the ufages of former times; had they changed nothing till they had found it upon trial to be incurably unfound, they would have deferved well of their country, and might still more largely have benefited mankind. They took, however, a contrary courfe. In no one act did they ever turn their eyes towards their ancient conftitution. They feemed, by common confent, to have renounced their forefathers. They affected to fet themfelves up as a totally new model of perfection for the imitation of the univerfe; yet differing in their motives, their intentions, their ends, their means, their notions, and their fpeculations; fome hurried away by the characteriftic vivacity of the nation, fome mifled by vanity, part deceived by the falfe light of a dangerous philofophy, part feeking the gratification of their own ambition, others covering the worst defigns under plaufible pretences, they only united to deftroy. They early entangled themselves with principles pretended to be drawn from an imaginary ftate of nature anterior to civil fociety; and for their agents and inftruments, they let loose from every religious or moral reftraint, all the most ungovernable paffions of the human breaft. There was nothing in their demeanour which had the femblance of wifdom: whatever they faid, was turgid and declamatory; whatever they did, was oftentatious and theatrical." P. 191.

A very striking and well-drawn comparifon follows, between the National Affembly and our Long Parliament, not much to the advantage of the Affembly; the errors and crimes of which are chiefly afcribed to the confpiracy of the Sophifters against all religion and government; which confpiracy, and the dreadful effect of the revolution on the French colo

nies, are fully explained; together with the connection of the Revolution Society in England with the Jacobin Clubs of France, and the open encouragement to revolt given by the Affembly to all the nations of Europe. The tranfactions of France refpecting Avignon and the Comtat Venaillin, are next detailed in a more full and clear manner than has hitherto come within our obfervation, and the effects of the Revolution on different parts of Europe are ftated; fubjoined to which, is an account of the celebrated interview between the Emperor and King of Pruffia at Pilnitz, and the circumstances attending it; which clofes the eighth chapter.

The internal fituation of France is then defcribed, and the various events are related which preceded the declaration of war with Auftria. To all who are not perfectly acquainted with those events, or may have formed an erroneous judgment refpecting them, this part of the narrative will be found highly ufeful. It will show, in the inftance of the fuppofed treaty of Pilnitz, how eafily, in political affairs, confident affertion is fubftituted for proof.

The origin, progrefs, and fortunate termination of the war in India, next claim our attention. Whatever difference on the fubject might have exifted at that period, we imagine every reader will now affent to the following reflections; which conclude the chapter.

"The advantages which have accrued to the company from this treaty, amply appear to counterbalance the enormous expences of the war. By the acquifitions in the neighbourhood of the Carnatic, and the confequent poffeffion of the feveral paffes from Myfore, a confiderable augmentation of revenue, and a greater protection from hoftile incurfions have been obtained in a very important quarter; while on the Malabar coaft, where we owned but little before, a portion of rich territory has been allotted to us, which, exclufive of its own commercial confe quence, by being attached to the presidency of Bombay, will at once tend to increase the fecurity of that presidency, and enhance its value. "The wife moderation of thofe councils, which directed only a partial divifion of the conquered countries, cannot be too much praised. For had not a fufficient extent of dominion been left Tippoo Sultan, to make him refpectable, and ftill in fome degree formidable to his neighbours, the balance of power in India might have been again materially affected, the future adjustment of which would have led to new wars. The treaty was a return, as far as circumftances would allow, to our old and true policy." P. 309.

The writer now adverts to Domestic Occurrences; of which the conduct of the revolution focieties, particularly fuch as were compofed chiefly of Diffenters, the confequent riots at Birmingham, and the Debates in Parliament, form the most diftinguished features. These Debates appear to us to be re

ported

ported with accuracy, yet without that minute detail which would be tedious in a general hiftory. At the conclusion of this narrative, we have a flatement of the proposed arrangement for an union between Minifters and their opponents, and the difficulties which rendered it at that period abortive.

The revolution of Poland is then purfued to its unfortunate conclufion; after which, the defigns and meafures of the King of Sweden, his affaffination, and a view of his character, are fet forth; a part of which character we will extract, as it is ably delineated.

"Guftavus poffeffed very eminent abilities, and talents not only fplendid, but equal to the performance of the grea eft things. Among thefe, together with a moft fafcinating addrefs, which rendered every franger at first fight interefted in his favour, was a very powerful and perfuafive eloquence, admirably fuited to popular affemblies, and from which he derived the moft fignal benefits in many of the most trying exigencies of his life. Indeed he valued himself on his management of the diet, and obferved, that he was the only fovereign who had fucceeded in convoking a public body of that description. His prefence of mind, immediate recollection, and instant decifion, in all fudden cafes of difficulty or danger, were perhaps only equalled by his uncle the great Frederick; while the firmnefs and fortitude which he manifefted in the many fevere conflicts on governmental and public affairs which he was obliged to fuftain, were in no degree inferior to that exalted courage which he difplayed in the field of battle.

"In that fcene of action, indeed, his intrepidity and contempt of danger were carried to fuch an excefs, as to conftitute the great ble mith of his military character; the duties of the commander feeming not unfrequently to be too much funk in thofe of the private foldier or volunteer. He evidently had the actions of his two great prede ceffors, Guftavus Adolphus, and Charles the XIIth. conftantly in his view, and endeavoured alternately, not only to emulate but to exceed them both. If he failed in fome of thofe comprehenfive firft-rate qualities of a great commander, particularly in a cool command of temper, which fo highly diftinguished the former, he equalled the latter in the only fhining parts of his character, thofe of valour and enterprize, and was infinitely his fuperior in all other refpects; indeed, the urbanity of his manners, his humanity, and his forgiving clemency, could not be fhewn to greater advantage, than by oppofing them to the unre lenting obftinacy, and the cruel ferocity of Charles." P. 394.

The hiftorian now reverts to the affairs of France, which he purfues through the xvth, and the two fucceeding chapters, to the conclufion. The various events preceding the destruction of the monarchy on the 10th of Auguft, 1792, are very diftinctly, and, we think, faithfully reprefented; but even a fketch of them would occupy more fpace than we can allow

to it.

The

The fecond part of this volume contains (among other things) a very full and authentic collection of State Papers, which illuftrate and confirm the History. The ufual mifcellaneous contents of an Annual Regifter will be found in this Part, well felected and digefted. But the Account of Books, we think, inftead of felecting three or four, and enlarging upon them, thould contain a fhort character of every work of importance which had appeared throughout the year.

Upon the whole, we do not hesitate to pronounce, that this work will baffle competition, if, in procefs of time, punctuality of publication fhall be added to the abilities and industry it fo eminently displays.

ART. VI. Travels through the States of North America, and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797. By Ifaac Weld, Jun. Illuftrated with Sixteen Plates. 4to. 464 pp. l. 115. 6d. Stockdale. 1799.

AMONG all the accounts of North America that have hi

therto appeared, this is the most entertaining and fatisfactory; not excepting the Travels of Carver, or the compilation of Jeffery. The author's motive for undertaking one of the molt laborious journies that was ever performed, is communicated in the Preface; from which we make an extract, that will explain to the reader Mr. Weld's long and circuitous

route.

"At a period when war was spreading defolation over the fairest parts of Europe, when anarchy feemed to be extending its frightful progrefs from nation to nation, and when the ftorms that were gathering over his native country (Ireland) in particular, rendered it impoffi ble to say how foon any one of its inhabitants might be forced to feek for refuge in a foreign land; the Author of the following pages was induced to cross the Atlantic, for the purpose of examining with his own eyes into the truth of the various accounts which had been given of the flourishing and happy condition of the United States of America, and of afcertaining whether, in cafe of future emergency, any part of thofe territories might be looked forward to, as an eligible and agreeable place of abode. Arrived in America, he travelled pretty generally through the ftates of Pennsylvania. Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jerfey, and New York; he afterwards paffed into the Canadas, defirous of obtaining equal information as to the ttate of thofe provinces, and of determining from his own immediate obfervations, how far the prefent condition of the inhabitants of the British dominions in America might be inferior, or otherwife, to that of the

people