"H ISTOIRE de l'Establisse

ment, de Progres, et de la Decadence de la Monarchie des Goths in Italiè, &c." "History of the Establishment, Progress, and Decline of the Monarchy of the Goths in Italy: a work which obtained the prize in the competition proposed by the Class of History and ancient Literature of the Institute, in the year 1810. By J. Maudet. Professor in the Lyceum Napoleon." Paris, 8vo. 1811. This, work consists of two parts. In the first the author gives a clear, but succinct history, of the Goths, from their establishment on the banks of the Euxine, till the period when Theodoric the Ostrogoth rendered himself master of Italy, and established his court at Ravenna, after the assassination of Odoacer. In the second he describes the reign and extensive power of Theodoric at full length; and briefly follows his successors to the year 552, at which period the dominion of the Goths in Italy is well known to have terminated. In the following character of Theodoric, he appears to have given a picture of his own master in disguise, and with great archness. Born amidst barbarians, Theodoric had nothing barbarous but his name and origin. His genius had advanced several centuries before the intellectual standard of his countrymen. His early educa

1

tion had given him that force of character which makes conquerors. His residence at Byzantium had contributed to expand the germ of those talents which constitute the consummate politician. At once haughty and cunning, ambitious and supple, occupied only with himself, and always affecting an unlimited regard for the people, his great art consisted in penetrating into the characters of men in order to deceive them; and in accommodating himself to their prejudices and weaknesses in order to bend them to his views. He caressed the foe whom he feared, and crushed him whom he could oppress with impunity. He could either dazzle by his pomp, or charm by his modesty; make himself feared by his rigour or beloved by his clemency. He conciliated the regard of all, whilst he elevated those who could contribute to his power. His thoughts and his actions had no other object than his own greatness; and, I will add, that he sacrificed the people to his interest.

"Histoire generale d'Espagne depuis les tempes les plus reculés, &c." "General History of Spain from the remotest times to the end of the eighteenth century. By G. B. Depping." 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1811. The two volumes before us comprise only half the task which the learned author has proposed to himself, the

whole

whole of which is to extend to four volumes, the remaining two of which we expect to receive speedily. M. Depping distributes his work into four epochs. 1. The entrance of the Romans into Spain. 2. The invasion of the Goths. 3. The invasion of the Moors. 4. The esta blishment of Christian kingdoms and nations under one monarch. The whole being preceded by a very erudite and cautious inquiry concerning the Celts and Iberians, who appear to have been the earliest inhabitants of the peninsula; and who, from subsequent incorporation, gave rise to the Celtiberian race.. Most nations are in want of a good general history of Spain: we have already hinted at this deficiency in noticing Mr. Bigland's late attempt to supply it in our own tongue; and till something worthy of the subject has appeared amongst us in an original form, we should like to see the present work vernaculized by a good translation.

"Histoire des Révolutions de Perse, &c." "History of the Revolutions in Persia during the eighteenth century, preceded by a summary of all the remarkable events in the empire, from the epoch of its first foundation by Cyrus. By C. Picault." 2 vols. 8vo. Paris. This work is compiled in an amusing and instructive manner: the period which it comprises is fuller of plots, counterplots, and revolutions, than a modern drama; and as there are various tyrants, of various qualities, almost perpetually rising up before the historian, whose characters he has to pourtray, it is not to be wondered at that, like the author of the preceding work but one, he should Occasionally have hit upon several striking likenesses of the present French ruler.

"Lettres écrites en Allemagne,

&c." "Letters written in Germany, Prussia, and Poland, in the year 1805, 8yo. &e. By J. P. Grauffenaner, M. D. &c." 8vo. Paris. The writer was attached in his professional capacity to the grand army of France, which, in 1806 and 1807, annihilated the Prussian monarchy, and forced the intimidated autocrat of all the Russias to sign the ignoble treaty of Tilsit. In the course of this service Dr. Grauffenaner passed Wurtemburg, Wurtzburg, Hesse, Hanover, Hamburg, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Prussia, and Lithuania, to the banks of the Niemen: on his return he traversed a part of Poland, and finished his expedition at Berlin. The present volume of Letters is the fruit of these travels. For the most part they are short and superficial, though the style is amusing, and the writer certainly discovers an observant eye. Some idea of the woeful state of Berlin may be formed from the fact, that when our traveller was there, (and certainly its fortunes have not improved since that period), the public institution for the deaf-dumb contained only twenty residents; and that for the education of the blind only two-both establishments supported au frais da roi," at the king's expense."

"Paris dans le dixneuvième Siècle, &c." "Paris in the nineteenth century; or, Remarks of an Observer on its new Institutions, Embellishments, Public Spirit, Society, &c. By Peter Jouhaud, Advocate.” 8vo. Paris. M. Jouhaud is the Mercier of the day; he is indeed somewhat less polished and eloquent, but he roves over Paris as widely, and possesses as penetrative an insight into its customs, amusements, pursuits, fashions, and whims of every kind; all of which are described in fifty-five distinct chapters, and many of them with great spirit, though

always

166

always with great loyalty and courtliness. Among other curious facts, we find that the " Mort de Piété is become a vast pawn-broker's reservoir under the control of the government, and for its profit; that "the revolution is said to have given a mortal blow to religion," that the church is quitted during the ele vation of the host"-and that the gambling of the Paris Stock Exchange is now held by an ordonnance of government in a vacant church. See ch. xviii. xxv. and liv. "Histoire des Femmes Françaises les plus celebres, &c." "History of the most celebrated French Women, and of their Influence on French Literature, as the Patrons of Letters and as authors. By Madame de Genlis." 2 vols. 12mo. This history descends to the present day, and gives lively, and, for the most part we believe, correct sketches of the characters it undertakes to delineate. It includes, of course, accounts of Mad. Neckar, which is by no means a flattering one, Madame Cotin, so well known by her very excellent romances, of which the author prefers ber Matilda, though she asserts that both the last" are infinitely superior to those of all the male writers of romance, not excepting Marivaux,"--the Marchioness du Deffant, and Mademoiselle de l'Espinasse, ladies as well known to our own country as Mad. de Cotin, from the translations of their respective letters.

"Simples Notices Historiques, &c." "Biographical Notices of the most celebrated Generals of foreign nations (i. e. France excepted,) from 1792, to the present time. By M. Chateauneuf." 8vo Paris. The characters described are-of Austrians, Prince Cobourg, Duke Albert of Saxe Teschen, Kray, Clairfait, Melas, Wurmser, Prince Hohenlohe,

1811.

Kirchberg, Baron Beaulieu, the Archduke Charles, M. Nauendorf, Baron Bender, Latour, Wartensleben, Bellegarde, and the Emperor Francis II himself. Of Russians, Suwarrow, Korsakow, Buxhovden, Lamenkoi, and Kutusow. Of Prussians, Frederic William III. Mollendorf, Kalkreuth, Prince Frederic of Orange, Schoenfeld, Blucher, and the Princes of Hesse Cassel, and Hohenlohe Ingelfingen. Of English, the Duke of York, Lord Nelson, Sir Sidney Smith, Admiral Warren, Sir Ralph Abercromby, and Lord Hutchinson. Considering that this volume was published in 1810, the writer might have found the means to have enriched the catalogue with the names of Wellington, Graham, Hill, and Moore;-but we suppose that they would not have been exactly to the taste of the superintendants of the Paris press; or perhaps they were first placed in the group, and these gentlemen thought it their duty to proscribe them.

Description de l'Egypte, &c." "Description of Egypt; or, a Collection of the Observations and Researches which were made in Egypt during the Expedition of the French Army." Published by order of his Imperial Majesty, folio, at the Imperial Press, Paris. Levraison (first Delivery) Eighty Guineas Sterling. On vellum paper, with proof plates, 150). This is indeed a magnificent work, and upon a truly magnificent subject. We understand that two additional levraisons will be neces sary to complete the design, each of which will be still more expensive than the present. While the enemy do justice to our valour even in the pages before us, admitting in the preface that we annihilated their fleet in the battle of the Nile, and destroyed all their schemes by the

victories which we obtained over them on shore-let us not feel any reluct ance in confessing that their plan was great; and that during the period of their occupation of Egypt, their researches into the antiquities, natural history, and productions of that country, reflect the highest honour on the men of letters and artists who were employed on this occasion.

"Preussens altere Geschichte." "Ancient History of Prussia." 8vo. 4 vols. Riga. This is well knowu to be a production of M. Kotzebue; and has excited a very lively interest in Germany, not merely from the talents of the author, but from the merit of the execution and the nature of the materials. By a combination of fortunate circumstances, he obtained access to the secret archives of Koenigsberg; from which he has drawn a body of authentic documents of a curious nature, and of great importance in their relation to the early history of the north of Europe, and especially to the career of the Teutonic Knights. The work has been translated into French; but the boldness of the writer's notes is not calculated for that meridian, and he has given great offence to the courtly critics.

"Reise um die Welt, &c." "Voyage round the World, in the years 1803-1806. By order of his Majesty Alexander I, by the vessels Nadeshdas and Newa; commanded by A. J. Krusenstern, Captain in the Imperial Navy, 1 vol. large 4to. Petersburg. From the Printing Of fice of the Imperial Academy." Two editions of this work were published at the same time: one in the Russian language, the other in the German. Each, when completed, will comprise three volumes, with about a hundred plates, and a sufficiency of maps and charts. This voyage was unfortunate, but it is almost the

only one of the kind which Russia has undertaken, and it has hence excited a considerable degree of interest. The whole navy of Russia could not supply ships for the purpose, and hence recourse was had to England, when the two vessels mentioned in the title page, but new-named, were purchased for 17,000l. The chief design, had it answered, was to have established a communication between the eastern and western Provinces of the widely spreading empire of Russia by means of the ocean. We shall return to this subject upon the appearance of the subsequent volumes.

Whilst we are upon the subject of Russian productions we will venture to notice another, which has been regarded as one of the most remarkable and interesting publications of the north of Europe for the current year. It is entitled, “Nestor; or, Russian Annals, in the original Sclavonian, compared, translated, and interpreted by Louis Schloetzer, Professor of History and Politics in the University of Gottenburg. M. Schlôetzer was authorised by the Empress Catharine to draw up a Russian History from a personal investigation of all the most authentic and ancient documents. The present is, therefore, the commencement of the fruit of his labours; it is dedicated to the Emperor Alexander, and will extend to twelve volumes. It is entitled Nestor, who may be called the Muscovite Gregory, from its containing a full elucidation of the old chronicle of the monk of this name, in conjunction with researches of far more importance, and especially in regard to the Sclavonian people, and the Byzantine empire. We shall follow this valuable work as it proceeds.

"Storia delle Reppublice Italiane, &c." "History of the Italian Republics,

publics, &c. By S. Sismondi." The full range of this very elaborate and voluminous work we are not yet acquainted with. For eight volumes, however, we can already answer, but how many more lie beyond these we are not able to prophecy. We can only say that it is a truly valuable, original, correct, elegant, and as far as may be, impartial history. We trust it will be persevered in and completed; but we have some doubts whether from the independent spirit it evinces, this will be allowed.

"Annali di Geografia, e di Statistica, &c." "Annals of Geography and Statistics. By J. Graberg, Genoa." 2 vols. 8vo. M. Graberg is by birth a German; be has settled in the Ligurian Republic; and the very valuable work before us, is drawn up and continued upon the admirable plan of the " Ephemerides Geographiques Universelles," published at Weiner.

"Storia della Guerra dell' Independenta degli Stati, &c." "History of the War of the Independence of the United States of America. By Charles Botta, member of the legislative body of France, and of the academy of Turin." M. Botta engages in this undertaking with as much ardour for the cause of America as the Americans themselves could wish for, and with as much truth and freedom of mind as makes

us tremble for himself. Where this work was printed we know not.

From America, to which the preceding article has conducted us, we have received among other works, which we must defer noticing for want of space till our next Register, "The Works of Alexander Hamilton, comprising his most important official Reports, an improved edition of the Federalist, &c. in three volumes. New York.' These must ever be highly revered by the country in which they were produced: the first as some of the most momentous of its state archives; and the last as the periodical paper that equally fixt the people to a patriotic and eventually a triumphant design, and the government to the choice of a permanent (if it should be permanent) constitution.

"Speech of the Hon. James Emmolet in the House of Representatives of the United States, Feb. 6, 1811, in relation, to the non-intercourse." With this deservedly ceJebrated Anti-Gallican speech most of our readers are already acquainted by the newspapers, and those who are not, have lost a treat which will not soon return to them.

"Letters on France and England." There can be no doubt from whose pen these proceed; they espouse in strong language the argument of the preceding; and are unquestionably from the able pen of Mr. Walsh.

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