variety of grand and beautiful objects were prefented to hi view. Thefe he defcribes in fuch an affecting and infruc tive manner, as really to answer every purpose of publications of this kind. His details are much more ample and comprehen five than thofe of Mr. Brydone, and his defcriptions are not agreeable and lively than thofe of the elegant and ingenic British traveller. We think, indeed, that Mr. Brydone's pic ture of the profpe&t from Ætna, and of the gradual illumination of the majestic fcene by the rifing fun, is ftill more animat than that of Mr. Houel, and yet we have not pronounced t judgment without hesitation;-like Palemon, in Virgil, w would give them both the heifer.

The 121ft Plate prefents a picturefque view of the Spelenai Capriole, or the Goat's Cavern, which furnishes a romant manfion for travellers, and is furrounded on all fides with w and majestic beauties.

Proceeding in his progrefs toward the fummit of the mous tain, our Author arrived at the Torre del Philofopho, or the f pofed Tower of Empedocles; this, with a view of the Pyr! midical Mountain, where the crater of Ætna is placed, oc pies the 122d Plate, and the following exhibits a beautiful t terrific view of the mouth of that awful mountain, taken in the borders of the crater. The founds that are formed by pe cuffion of the ftones, which rife from the abyfs, against the ternal fides of the mountain, and their repercuffions repez. fucceffively in thefe fubterraneous caverns, by their echoes, defcribed by Mr. Houel in fuch a lively manner, that we cart read his account of them without emotion and awe.

Plate 124th exhibits a view of the famous aqueduct of Ar gona, on the river Simetus, which feparates the bafe of A on the right, from the plain of Aragona, on the left, alfo of the mountains that are feen at a distance beyond aqueduct. It appears evident, from this view, and from j Author's obfervations, that the bafe of Etna is formed by ternate firata of lava and marine bodies, which have been: ceffively placed, one upon another; and hence Mr. H. dras demonftrative proof of the theory of volcanos, containe the preceding number, which, though not new, is ingenio laid down.

The two concluding Plates of this number contain view the falt fprings of Salinello, and of the accumulations of bal at the foot of Mount Etna, at a place called Herba B Thefe accumulations, which contain different kinds of bala are a new proof, that no volcano exhibits this fubftances. fo many variations as Etna.

For our former account of these very curious Travels, Rev. vols. lxviii. lxx. and lxxii.

WE

ART. XVII.

Eai d'un Traité Elementaire de Morale; i. e. An Attempt toward
an Elementary Treatise on Morals. Amfterdam (Paris). 1787.
E have tranflated literally the unaffuming title of this
little work. By the modefty of it we are led to
think that the Author did not look upon the compofition of an
elementary treatife as an eafy matter, and this gave us immediately
a prepoffeffion in favour of his judgment, which was afterwards
verified and confirmed by the order, precifion, fimplicity, and
good fenfe contained in his performance. The Author lays
down four principles, which form the bafis of his elementary
doctrine; these are, the effential characters of man, confidered
as a fenfitive animal, a rational animal, a fociable being, and the
creature of God. By the firft of thefe characters, man is capable
of perceiving and feeling good;-by the fecond, he is inftructed
in the means of purfuing it;-in the third, he finds objects and
relations, that furnifh materials for its enjoyment ;-and in the
fourth, he discovers its fupreme fource, and the powerful and
directing principle that regulates or reinforces all the others.
The Author applies the moral conclufions that flow from these
principles to the different ftages of human life, to infancy, youth,
mature years, and old age, which occupy the four fections into
which his work is divided. His leffons are entirely practical,
and they are truly judicious and interefting.
M.-e.

ART. XVIII.

Reflexions fur le Regne de Trajan; i. e. Reflections on the Reign of Trajan. By M. BAYEUX, Advocate in the Parliament of Normandy, Correfponding Member of the Academy of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres at Paris, and of other learned Societies. 8vo. Paris. 1786.

TH

HIS French Pliny feems, in the work before us, to have a French Trajan in view, whom he obliquely panegyrizes, while he offers incenfe at the altar of the Roman Emperor. This is a more delicate, or at leaft a lefs fulfome manner of praifing, than if ur M. BAYEUX fent the odour of his oblation, in a direct line, into the noftrils of his fovereign. But there is another thing to be obferved in thefe Reflexions, which does ftill more honour to their ingenious Author, viz. that Trajan is here exhibited with elegance, and dexterity, as a model to follow. Salutary hints and wife counfels are happily conveyed under the lines of the imperial portrait, and a fuccinct and judicious view of what that prince did, by reforming abufes, and other wife measures for the felicity of his fubjects, is held up to fhew what other princes, and one more efpecially, ought to do. M. BAYEUX juftifies the encomiums that Pliny and Martial

have given fo liberally to the virtues and the reign of Trajan, by pointing out the particular and active attention which that prince bestowed on the adminiftration of juftice, on the regulation of the finances, on the improvement of the marine, and the advancement of commerce. On all thele objects, but more especially on the first and fecond, the praifes of Trajan can only be counfels in their application to the prince whom M. BAYEUX has in view; for they would be a cruel irony were they intended as reflected panegyric on any thing in the lines of French jurisprudence and finances but what is yet to be done.

What is not yet done, however, feems to be seriously in contemplation; and various laudable attempts are at present in exertion, which lay fome faint foundation for our Author's parallel. He has had the fagacity to find, in the reign of Trajan, types and parallels of many things, which mark peculiarly the government of the monarch under whom he lives. Thus the assembly of the Notables, the fortifications of Cherburg,-the American war, and even the Marquis de la Fayette, are adumbrated in the hiftory of the Roman Emperor. But in these adulatory and very ingenious analogies, very improper facrifices of truth and confcience are fometimes made to wit and imagination. This is the only circumftance which prevented our reading this elegant production with unmixed pleasure. M--e

ART. XIX.

Travels through Germany, in a Series of Letters; written in German by the Baron Riefbeck, and tranflated by the late Rev. Mr. Maty. 8vo. 3 Vols. 15s. Boards. Cadell. 1787.

VERY

ERY few Travels have equal merit with the performance before us. The writer feems to be a man of much obfervation, and to have acquired a confiderable knowledge of the hiftory of Europe. His judicious remarks on the ancient and modern political hiftory of the kingdoms and states through which he paffed, is a full proof of his great application to, and the proficiency he has made in, hiftorical purfuits. The letters, nevertheless, are not wholly confined to thefe abftrufe difquifitions; they are interfperfed with accurate defcriptions of the principal cities, and the country, which the Author had vifited; the manners of the people, the ftate of learning-of arts and fciences of agriculture and commerce,-are frequently introduced, and largely treated; nor have the amufements of the country, fuch as theatrical reprefentations and private recreations, been lefs attended to; in fhort, every circumstance which an intelligent reader would wish to know, or of which the information can be either ufeful or entertaining, may be here found.

In fupport of the encomium which we have justly bestowed on this work, we fhall prefent our Readers with the following con

4

clufion

clufion of a letter, dated from Vienna; in which the Author defcribes the caufes of the univerfal weakness of the moral feelings obfervable in the inhabitants of that city:

The confequence of this people's want of fpirit is, that their vices are as few and as weak as their virtues. Nothing is heard here of the tragedies which are fo frequent at London, Rome, and Naples. Pickpockets, cheats, bankrupts, thieves, fpendthrifts, pimps, and bawds, are the only criminals known at Vienna. The Auftrian has not strength of character enough to be a highwayman; and a Saxon gentleman, who has been fettled here fome years, and has travelled over the whole country, affures me, that he does not remember to have heard of fuch a thing as a duel. I was witnefs to a fcene yefterday which ftrongly marks the character both of the people and the police of this place. A well-dreffed man had a quarrel with a hackney coachman about his fare. They foon came to high words. One of the 600 fpies, who are divided about the different parts of the city, came up. The gentleman grew warm and gave bad words, which the other returned with intereft. At length they fhook their filts at each other, but neither ventured to ftrike; for it feems there is a law, by which, whoever ftrikes firft is punifhed, let the previous provocation have been what it will. Had either but touched the hat of the other, it would have been reckoned a blow, and he would have been immediately taken up by the watch. As it was, they parted, after affording a quarter of an hour's laugh to the populace. The duration of thefe frays may be longer or fhorter ad libitum; but there are few examples of their ever being carried farther than words.

The court has nothing to fear from a revolt. In the beginning of the last century, indeed, the Proteftants made a little tir; but all was foon quiet again. Indeed, the Viennois is too enervate for an infurrection.—

Subordination is the only characteristic feature of this people; nor have I ever feen a fpark here either of the Englishman's love of liberty, or the Frenchman's feeling for the honour of the grand monarch. The pride even of the army is too perfonal, ever to admit of any fenfibility for the honour of the flate.

6

The individuals of a country which exifts only by fubordination, will of courfe be weak and feeble characters. It is true, that the moft illimited obedience did Sparta no harm; but the reafon was, because it was not the reigning feature of the people, but only a means of fecuring the freedom after which the nation thirfted. The British laws are fome of them very fevere, and the difcipline of their navy as ftrict as that of the Pruffian army; but as thefe feverities do not run through the whole of their government, they do not deftroy the feelings of the people. Though no nation has fo much checked the power of their kings at different periods as the British has done, yet the history of no nation affords more inftances of the devotion of individuals to the fovereign. The fame love which the Englishman has for liberty extends to the perfon of the prince, whenever the prince leaves the conftitution unimpaired, and manifefts a love for it. The upshot is, that the Briton will preferve ftrength of character APP. Rev. Vol. LXXVI.

Tt

as long as the conftitution of his country lafts; whereas the fubjects of defpotic princes will be weak and grovelling in spirit.

6

The government of this place endeavours to make some amends for the univerfal fubjection under which the people are held, by a moft exact adminiftration of justice, by taking measures for universal fecurity, and by the free admiffion and encouragement of every pleafure (the fingle one of lawless love alone excepted) that can delight the human mind. Whilft in France a country gentleman may be thrown in prifon by a governor of a province, and continue there all his life, the lowest footman here is affured of having the ftrictekt juftice done him, if he has occafion to complain of his lord, even though he were the Lord High Chamberlain. The police is fo vigi. lant and acute, that the moft fubtle thefts are commonly discovered, and the owner gets his goods again. Almost all the imperial houfes and gardens are almoft conftantly open to the public. The players are under the peculiar protection of the court, who fhews, in every thing, that the restraint it lays the people under arifes more from principle than the defire of tyrannizing over them. And yet, notwithstanding all this pleasure, and all this fecurity, I had rather be expofed to a London footpad, or have the bottles and glaffes whiftle round my head on the laft night of Vauxhall, than enjoy all the placid tranquillity of this place. Thefe laft are diforders, indeed, but they are diforders which are infeparable from a frong national character, fuch as is that of the people by whom they are committed.'

By the above extract, our readers will eafily perceive the author's judgment in forming, from external appearances, a true idea and just eftimate of the manners of a nation. We could have wished, however, to have feen his remarks clothed in a more elegant English drefs. The style is indeed free from grammatical errors; but it wants that polifh, and felicity of expreffion which is pleafing to every judge of good language.

The Author, who is a German, a native of Wirtenberg, affumes the character of a Frenchman, and addreffes his letters to a fuppofed brother at Paris. Indeed, the many fevere ftrictures on German manners, which are to be found in various parts of the work, were perhaps thought more becoming a foreigner than a native and, probably, on that account, the Author affumed the character of a Frenchman; although the freedom and feverity with which he frequently treats France and its inhabitants, fometimes equals that which he has bestowed on the Germans.

Baron Rifbeck commences his travels at Strafburg; and, proceeding through Swabia and Bavaria, he defcribes whatever is worthy of notice in the fouthern part of Germany. After remaining fome time at Vienna, whence he dates many of his letters, containing ample accounts of Auftria, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, and Poland, he proceeded to Prague; and thence, by the way of Drefden and Leipfic, to Berlin. The letters dated from this last mentioned place are, in our opinion, the most interefting part of the work. The Pruffian King and government

are