that, his principles being founded in error, his deductions could not fail to be incorrect. The feverity of this attack is, however, foftened by complimentary allufions to his talents, and experience in modern warfare. Guifchard then proceeds to exemplify his text by narrating fome of the inoft brilliant actions of antiquity. He difcuffes, circumftantially, the whole of their tactics, and frequently with explanations altogether differing from the expofition by Folard. In a differtation on the attack and defence of pofts, he is ftill more contradictory in his affertions. He maintains that, in this refpećt, our theory and that of the ancients is the fame; but that the practice differs. This is a difficult point to decide, the invention of powder having materially changed our exercife. His analysis of Cæfar's wars in Africa explains the obfcurities of Hirtius. In other memoirs, hiftorical and critical, Guifchard difcuffes the campaigns of Cæfar in Spain, when oppofed by Pompey's armies. He illuftrates the fubject by learned notes on the Roman method of conftructing bridges for the paffage of their troops; on the method of reconciling the calendar ufed by Julius Cæfar with that of his predeceffors; on their military views; their geographical knowledge, &c. &c. This writer appears to be perfectly converfant with the Greek and Latin languages. His tranflations of Onofander, of Arrian's Tactics, and partly of Julius Africanus, fupplementary to his Memoirs, are creditable to his pen, and claim the gratitude of literary as well as military characters. The Chevalier Lo-Looz takes up the gauntlet thrown down by Guifchard; he begins by alerting that war, as a fcience, is founded on felf-evident propofitions, on theory fo demonftrative, that thofe whom it is intended to inftruct fhould learn to move by principle, inftead of being misled by conjecture often unfupported even by the appearance of probability. He defcribes Guifchard as an unfteady guide, whofe ignorance of Roman tactics, added to his extravagant On this account the King of Pruffia called him Quintus Icilius, after a Roman general, one of whofe most skilful manœuvres he had imitated. Frederic took him into his service, and treated him with esteem and distinction. hypothefes and bold affertions, have eftranged him from the true interpretation of his text. He purfues the track of his opponent, feizes on the fame objects, and makes them fubfervient to the elucidation of his own fyftem. Guifchard, in his reply, adds to the proofs he had already given; and defcants on the futility of his adverfary's affected learning. Thefe difputes, however, were very ferviceable to the general cause. MENIL DURAND, infpired with a hope of being able to create and mature a national fyftem of war, undertook the extenfion and developement of Folard's plans. He forebodes events deftined to raife the arms of France to an height of glory which thall exceed all human calculation; and contends, that his propofed manoeuvres are adapted to the character of his countrymen, who, naturally lively, want conftitutional phlegin to fuftain a continued fire unfhaken : whereas edged weapons would fuit their impetuofity of temper, and contribute materially to fuccefs. He contrafts & column fo armed with a battalion column; and infers from thence, that by means of this mixture of arms (fo much recommended by all masters of the art), the former would poffefs a decided advantage over the latter, by fpirited and active movements certainly practicable in the very heat of battle. With the columns of the ancients he is perpetually finding fault; but in his own, he af fures us, all their advantages are united, without any mixture of their defeéts. His fyftem, however, has a formidable opponent in the author of A General Effay on Tactics. The judicious Marthal DE PUYSEGUR, a decided partifan of the ancients, has thrown fome important light on Military Evolutions. In his grand tactics, he appeals to the example of the Greeks, who had military fchools for the inftruction of youth in the theory of war; and afferts the poffibility of perfecting that fcience without the aid of troops: for the pofitions being incontrovertible, and the principles geometrically true, no other experience is, in his opinion, effential to their operation than a perfect understanding of the established rules. of opinion that a battalion, according to Puységur, in oppofition to Folard, is its prefent numbers, is of a proportion ate confiftency to wheel without auk wardness, and manoeuvre with activity and effect. He fays, the cohorts refem bled bled our battalions; and that nations, mott renowned for war, had timilar inftitutions: fo that the prefent fyftem emanates, as it were, from that of the ancients. His parallel of Cæfar's wars in Spain, and of Turenne's with the Duke of Lorraine, is the production of a fcientific general. His reflections on remote military histories; his comparative view of the French army in its original, and in its prefent, ftate; his details, comp ebending the whole movement of an army, attelt equal judgment and experience. In a fuppofed campaign between La Scine and La Loire, he calls all his principles into action. TURPIN and GUIBERT were cotemporary, and are celebrated, although they confiantly differ from each other. The one is a zealous defender of unwieldy battalions, heavy fquadrons, redoubts, &c. and recommends the ufe of pikes and other two-edged weapons. Guibert, on the other hand, rejects this practice. Each of them appreciates the achievements of the King of Pruffia, but differently. Their works, however, prove them to be experienced officers. Turpin, like Folard, is deficient in elegance, precition, and method. Guibert is nervous, methodical, and accurate; his Eday on Tactics, in a general fcale, is univerfally admired, and proves him to be a found patriot. The freedom, nay boldness, of his preface, which he dared print at a time when every man's public opinions were regulated by caution, are teftimonials of his independent fpirit, which proclaimed the truth at the expence of his advancement; the language is very beautiful. He fupports his fyftem by a very clear and well drawnup analysis of Turenne's, de Luxembourg's, and the King of Pruffia's moft memorable actions. Nor has he been less faccessful in determining the importance of a ftanding army in a great empire like France, co-equal with her neighbours. His work, entitled a Defence of Modern Warfare, in refutation of Menil Durand, contains many excellent criticifins, and confirms the unfhaken independence of his principles. MAIZERAY difplays a perfect knowledge of ancient languages, as well as tactics. His works are much esteemed by foreigners. The Memoirs of the COUNT DE ST. GERMAIS are written with all the fimplicity of the ancients; he recounts many of the projects he had formed during his miniftry, and, with great candour, points at the errors he committed. His plan of reform, which he unfolds with becoming modefty, originated in moral as well as political views; it comprehends all the details of government, and extends from the enliftinent of a private foldier to the retreat of an army. His opinions, founded on thofe of many general officers, by exciting curiofity, give additional intereft to the work. His Memoirs have been reviewed at large by an anonymous writer, whom Mirabeau in his Pruflian Military Syftem, acknowledges to be a very able commentator. MOTTIN DE LA BALME was the man who firit difpelled our falfe notions on cavalry operations: his elementary treatife thereon is highly applauded both at home and abroad. His opinions are preferred to thofe of Folard, de Puységur, and even M. de Saint Germain. Ile thinks we thould have a very fuperior ftud, if we paid more attention to our breed of horfes. PEZAY is author of Maillebois' Campaigns in Italy. The plates, although very incorrect, have hitherto been very ufeful in developing the military operations in a country fo frequently the theatre of our arms. The first volume contains the Italian wars, as tranflated from the Latin of Buonamici, whom Pezay calls a mercenary and bombattic fcribbler; although he is generally ef teemed an elegant, learned, and even impartial writer. The latter's ignorance in Latin is fo great, that he gives interpretations diametrically opposite to the meaning of his author, and then cafts an odium on his unoffending original. BOURUT'S Hiftorical Memoirs of the Seven Years' War, defcribe accurately the causes of our humiliating ill fortune during that memorable period; and we receive the expofition with the more confidence, as the author was in the fecrets of the cabinet, and privy to all the dispatches and plans fent to the army; many of which had been digested by himfelf. An eafy comprehenfive style, and admirable precition, diftinguish this work, which comprifes a faithful narrative of the war, and a true defcription of the country. MIRABEAU'S Military Pruffian Syftem ranks him among military hiftorians. He developes, very circumftantially, the organization, the conftitution, and tactical principles of the Pruffian army. It is a complete work, and more defcrip Q 2 tive tive than any other of the military fyftem of Frederic II., which fyftem all the powers of Europe feem difpofed to imitate. The whole of the work tends to fhew, that Mirabeau is a great warrior, as well as a moft eloquent and profound politician. The Revolution has already been the fubject of various hiftorical labours; and the intereft naturally attaching to events fo truly important, gives celebrity to the patriotic zeal of our countrymen, who (amid changes fo rapid, and difafters fo univerfal, that the impreffion of the exifting hour was frequently loft in the more eventful contemplation of the hour to come) have rescued from oblivion ample materials to record our national glory. This praife, however, does not attach to all our historians. Some of the most able, even, have imagined that a hafty but faithful fketch was as much as could be expected from the moment; while others, in contemplating the vaft picture in perspective, but without being able to groupe the variety of its features, have merely sketched the most prominent among them; and with the graceful touches of fcience and reflection, have leifurely given an impofing grandeur to their painting. General ALEXANder Berthier's Narrative of Bonaparte's Campaigns in Egypt, prefents the compendious account of an event which history will record as one of the most memorable on our modern annals. The author's ftyle is as rapid as the movements he defcribes, yet every detail is perfect. Method regulates his objects, correctnefs defcribes them; and the whole borrows a pleafing variety from a happy combination of moral reflections and defcriptive talent. The fubject is always harmonifed by the language, and contains a diverfity of tone and inflection, which adds greatly to the general intereft of the work. An elegant ftyle, intelligent obfervation, excellent geographical and topographical details on the nature of the feat of war, and unbiaffed opinions, are the real merits of a Summary of Military Events, by MATTHIEU DUMAS; beginning with the diffolution of the congrefs of Raftadt, and clofing with the 18th Brumaire. This work (notwithitanding fome inaccuracies admitted by the author) will form, hereafter, a perfect treafure to those who may be difpofed to write the history of that period of the war. For the Monthly Magazine. GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES IN THE BACK SETTLEMENTS OF NORTH AMERICA. Obfervatios on certain Parts of the Country in Louifiana; by ANTHONY SOULARD, Eq. Surveyor-General of Upper Louisiana. THE Midouri, whofe fources are still unknown, is, however, already claffed amongst the largest rivers. It is an object of aftonishment to every body. The uninftructed admire the rapidity of its ftream, its extraordinary length, the falubrity of its waters, and their uncommon colour. The experienced traveller, aftonished at the riches fcattered along its banks, and looking into futurity, beholds this rival of the Nile paffing through countries as fruitful, as populous, and more extenfive than thofe of Egypt. The most lucid narrative can afford but an imperfect idea of the riches accumulated on its shores. The Mitfouri unites with the Miffiffippi about fifteen miles above the town of St. Louis, in about the 40th degree of north latitude. After this junction, they run about 1200 miles before they fall into the Gulf of Mexico. But as this part of the courfe is well known, I fhall confine myself to the Missouri. I have afcended this river about 1800 miles, without perceiving any diminution of its breadth or velocity. The principal ftreams which fall into the Miffouri, as you afcend it, are the Gafconade, the Ofage, the two Charatons, the Grand River, the River of the Plains, the Nichinan, the Batoney, the Great and Little Nimahas, the Platte, the Sioux, the Running Water, and others. For 75 miles above its junction with the Miffiffippi, there are different fettlements of American families, especially at Bonhomme, Femine Ofage, &c.; beyond these the banks are inhabited by favages only. The Great and Little Otages, fettled at 120 leagues on the waters called by their respective names, the Cams, the Otas, the Panis, the Loups or Panis Mahas, the Mahas, the Pincas, the Ricaras, the Mandanes, and the Sioux. The latter tribe has no fixed habitation on the Miffouri, but vitit it regularly for the purpose of hunting, The borders of the Miffouri are alternately forefts and meadows, or cleared plains. The higher we go up this river, the more common are thefe plains; and they they feem to enlarge every year, in confequence of the fires which overrun them in autumn. Thete tires are kindled either by the Indians or the white hunters, fometimes by accident, and at others for the purpose of favouring their hunting. The water of the Miffouri is turbid, and depofits a fediment of very fine fand, which readily falls to the bottom. This admixture, which renders it unpleasant to the fight, diminishes not in the leaft its wholefomenefs. Experience has proved it to be more falubrious than that of the Ohio and the Upper Mififfippi. The rivers and streams that empty into the Miffouri below the Platte, are clear and limpid; but above that river they are as turbid as the Miflouri itself. This muddinefs is caufed by the fandy banks or hills of white earth through or down which they run. The bed of the Milfouri is interrupted by fhoals, fometimes of fand, and fometimes of gravel, which frequently change place, and confequently always render the navigation uncertain. Its general courfe is north, a quarter north-weft. To give a precife idea of the incalculable riches fcattered along the fides of the Missouri, would require unlimited knowledge. The low bottoms are covered with huge trees, especially the poplar and cotton trees, large enough for firft-rate canoes; the fugar-maple; the red and black walnut, so useful to join ers; the red and white elm; the threethorned acacia, of which impenetrable hedges may be made; the ofier; the red and black mulberry; the lime-tree, aud the horse-chefnut: all of which are very plentiful. Red and white oak, fit for veliels, and all other forts of timber, pine, and (on the flony mountaius) cedar, are common productions. I find it impoffible to enumerate all the trees which are yet unknown in other countries, and with whofe ufes and qualities we are as yet unacquainted. The fmaller plants are ftill more numerous : I, however, touch that article fuperficially, for want of fufficient botanical inforination. The Indians know the virtues of many of them. Some are used to heal wounds, others to poifon arrows; fome again for dyeing colours; and they employ certain vegetable fimples to cure radically and promptly the venereal difeafe. They conceal from us, with great care, a plant which renders them for fume moments infenfible of the moft ve hement fire. I have feen them take hold of red-hot irons and burning coals, without fuffering any inconvenience. The lands in the neighbourhood of the Miffouri are excellent; and, when cultivated, are capable of yielding all the productions of the temperate climates, and even fome of the hot ones: fuch as wheat, maize, and every kind of grain: common and sweet potatoes; hemp, which feems to be an indigenous vegetable: even cotton fucceeds there, though not fo well as farther fouth; and the raifing of it anfwers a good purpofe for the families already fettled on the river, for from a field of about two acres they obtain a crop fufficient to clothe a family, The natural meadows are a great refource for them. Thefe afford excellent pafture, and require but little labour to clear them. After one year's exertion, a man may enjoy his fields duly prepared for crops. Brick and potter's earths are very common; and the true Chinese kaolin is reported, by good judges, to be there, that fubftance to which porcelain owes its peculiar finenefs. And there exift on the borders of this grand river falt-fprings enough to furnish falt for the country when it hall become inhabited, and a great deal to fpare. Saltpetre is found very abundantly in numberlefs caverns near the Miflouri. The rocks are generally calcareous; though there is one which is peculiar to this river. It is of a blood-red colour, compact, yielding to a tool, hardening in the air, and receiving the neatest politi. The natives make their pipes of it. The ftrata are fo extenfive, that there is any quantity that may be wanted for other purposes. There are alfo quarries of marble; but we know as yet little more than its colour, which is veined red. It is faid there is a body of gypfum there; and this would not be difficult to explore. Volcanic productions are alfo found, evincing the exiftence of burning mountains in former times, or in fituations now unknown. The fhort ftay ufually made among the favage nations, has hitherto been unfavourable to the acquirement of correct information concerning the mines and ores near the Miffouri: we know with certainty of none other than thofe of iron, lead, and coal; but from the accounts given by the Indians, there can be no doubt that tin, copper, and filver, are found in thofe parts; and particles of This table, which is made as correct as poffible on an average of fifteen years, thus gives an amount of 77,971 dollars, without mentioning mulquathes and inartins. Calculating at the fame rate, the value of the goods carried up the Miffouri and exchanged for this peltry, would be 61,250 dollars, reckoning the charges to aimount to a quarter part of the worth of the articles. From this it follows, that the trade adlords an annual profit of 16,721 dollars, or about a profit of 27 per cent. If the Mulouri trade, badly regulated, and without encouragement, gives anzually fuch a pront, there can be no doubt of its increafe, if encouraged by government. It must be obferved, that the price fixed in the preceding table is that current at the Illinois. If the London price were taken, deducting freight and charges, the profit would appear much greater. If the Missouri, left to the favages, and having but a tingle branch of trade, affords fuch great returns in proportion to the capital employed in it, what might we not expect from individuals or companies with large funds, aided by a numerous population, and devoting themfelves to other forts of traffic. Some of thete, I am bold to fay, may be undertaken with a certainty of fuc cefs, when we confider the riches at forded by its banks, and of which I have endeavoured to ketch an outline. Although it was my intention to have written folely about the Missouri, I think I ought, at the fame time, to give an account of the mines and licks of falt which lie in the fame latitudes on the branches of the Arkansas. At about 300 miles from the village of the Great Ofages, in a weiterly direction, after having croffed feveral streams of the Arkanfas, the traveller comes to a low bottom, furrounded by hills of a vaft extent. This valley is about 45 miles acrofs. The foil is a black fand, very fine, and fo hard, that horfes fcarcely leave any tracks on it. During the hot and dry feafon, vapours rife from this bottom, which condenfe and fall back upon the black fand, covering it with a layer of exceedingly white and fine falt, about half an inch thick. The rains wash away this accumulation. At about 18 miles from this bottom, he meets with mines of ful gem on the very furface of the earth. The Indians, who are perfectly acquainted with it, are obliged to make use of levers to break it up, and loofen it. At about 45 miles diftance from the laft mentioned place, to the fouth, there is a fecond mine of fal gem, of the fame nature with the first. They only differ in colour; the former being white, and the other of a reddith hoc. Further fouth, and fill upon the streams of the Arkantas, there is a falite, which may be confidered as one of the oft interefting phenomena of nature. On the declivity of a finall bill, there are five holes, about a foot and a half in diameter, |