ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

As we have noticed, very much at large, the excellent work of Mr. Gentz, on the politics of Europe (fee our prefent number, p. 628, and two preceding numbers) we are happy to infert an interefting Extract of a Letter from that able writer, to his tranflator Mr. Herries, which states at large his further defigns for the common cause, accounts for an apparent deficiency in his prefent work, and conveys many important truths.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Gentz.

"I have one thing farther to requeft of you. You know that the work, in which you have fo kindly interested yourself, is unfinished. The diftribution of the heads at the beginning (p. 5 in the English) renders this obvious to every one.

"Even the third divifion is not completed. The important queftion concerning the maritime preponderance, or, as the ftupid partifans of the French call it, the naval tyranny of Great Britain (which involves the rights of neutral flags) remains to be difcuffed; and I intended to have added a recapitulation, in order to exhibit the present political ftate of Europe in one general picture. The Fourth Part, which was to have been an enquiry into the domeftic condition of the French under the influence of their new Conftitution (a very extensive, important, and interesting subject of investigation) is altogether wanting. I promifed, you know, to publish another volume: but I was reftrained from the accomplishment of this purpofe, partly by the political events which changed the face of affairs, and partly by circumftances of a private nature.

"You have fupplied in your Introduction, what was wanting for your purpose, on the fubject of neutral navigation, in a very complete and fatisfactory manner. This queftion (which I confider to be one of the moft intricate, perhaps the moft difficult, in the whole sphere of public law) has lately been much difcuffed, and very ably elucidated in England, where a great number of writings, fpeeches, and judicial fentences, replete with learning and ingenuity, have almoft reduced it to a matter of perfect evidence. But the cafe is very different indeed on the continent: there is no point of public law on which fuch grofs ignorance prevails, not only throughout the great body of the people, but even in the courts of law, and the cabinets of princes. I could relate anecdotes in proof of this, which would afford laughter to a British public. All the books published on this fubject in France, Germany,

Denmark,

Denmark, &c. of late years (for I am not fpeaking of Grotius, Puffendorf, Vattel, &c. and other writers of reasonable times) are monuments of the inoit confummate ignorance, or the most shameful difhonefty. These confiderations induced me to refolve to difcufs the queftion in all its bearings, and for that purpose I read every thing written upon it, from the 16th century to the prefent day. 1 ftudied and collated all treaties and conventions, all general laws and particular ftatutes. I employed myself during eight months exclufively in the purfuit, and was refolved to give the public at once an historical and philofophical account of the fubject. As a Third Part to a work already very extenfive, this publication would evidently have been too voluminous; I refolved therefore to publish it feparately, especially as I had at that time given up my intention of continuing the other work; and though I have been withholden from the execution of this plan, by the unfettled life which I have led fince the beginning of the fummer, I have by no means renounced it. I conceive that a work, fuch as I have chalked out, and partly executed, would be useful and inftructive on the continent, and very far from unimportant to the interefts of Great Britain. I even dare to carry my hopes farther; and though I thankfully confefs, that without the writings of British authors on the fubject, I could never have obtained the knowledge of it which I now poffefs; yet I flatter myself that I fhall be able to exhibit my fubject in fome particular points of view, which even for my mafters and inftructors may have the charm of novelty at least.

I am now well pleafed that I kept back the Chapter concerning the influence of the new Conftitution of France on the internal welfare, the moral and focial relation of her inhabitants. For although I could at no time have written under the idea that France poffeffed any thing in the leaft refembling a Republican Constitution, yet I fhould not eafily have foreseen in the autumn of 1801, that the defpotifm of the military government, then disguised (however imperfectly) by fome conftitutional forms, would fo foon break through all bounds, and fhow itfelf to the world in all its naked deformity. All that Hauterive has faid about the accordance of Republican principles, with the wants and inclinations of civil fociety, is now rendered perfectly ridiculous; but I am convinced that, in other points of view, this is a very ferious and important fubject, one of the most curious and interefting, that can occupy the refearches of the politician; and I will, fooner or later, direct my feeble efforts towards it.

"In order that the English public, who have honoured my works. with their attention, may receive fome explanation of the abrupt and almost fragmental fhape of the book you have tranflated, and at the fame time an affurance, that I fhall not ceafe to labour for the approbation of the worthy and enlightened among your countrymen, by future works, having for their object the interefts of Europe and of England (they are the fame) I fhould efteem it a favour if you would take any opportunity (were it even after my departure) to communicate to the public, in a few words, the most material part of what I have here taken the liberty of addreffing to you. You will thereby Complete my obligations, &c,"

In

In reply to an intimation on the fubject, we fhall only fay, that we have no partiality to any particular fet of publishers, but have ufually mentioned thofe of London, as moft generally known. We can, however, have no objection to extend this notice to thofe of other places.

The Poems mentioned by a correfpondent, who figns himfelf an Admirer and Friend, will certainly meet with due attention, when they come to hand.

We should be much fhocked at the flatement of Cler-Lon, were we not in the conftant habit of finding the most oppofite fentiments, in companies fuch as he describes. The evils of the times are many, but defpondence is a feeling, to which if we were very liable, we fhould never have undertaken the British Critic at the time we did; namely, in the year 1793

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. Woodhouse, of Caius College, Cambridge, is printing at the University Press a work, entitled Principles of Analytical Calculation. The above gentleman is author of fome valua ble papers in the Philofophical Transactions.

The Rev. E. Nares, author of the book, entitled is estis Mains, on the Plurality of Worlds, is about to publifh a fet of plain, practical difcourfes, written for a country congregation.

The fecond volume of the much-improved edition of Hutchins's Hiftory of Gloucestershire, will be published in a few weeks.

Another volume of the Hiftory of Leicefterfaire, by Mr. Nichols, will be ready in the fpring.

The long-expected topographical account of Surrey, by Manning, is in great forwardhefs.

A new edition of Mr. Ellis's Specimens of Ancient Engfh Poetry, is now in the prefs.

Mr. Hayley's Life of Cowper, will be published in a few days,

ERRATUM,

In our laft, the price of Mr. Malcolm's work on London, ought to have been 11. 11s. 6d, inftead of 11. 19.