Retrospect of French Literature—Geography. 
wiety of the Propaganda, and has also 
obtained the approbation of M. Lourdet, 
professor-censor of Paris!” These, as- 
suredly, are no recommendations to 
an English reader; but the work itself 
abounds with curious historical details, 
and we trust that this sketch of it will 
not be deemed unacceptable. 
GEOGRAPHY. 
“Coup d’oeil general et histor. sur 
Jes changemens geographiques,” &c. A 
general and historical survey of the geo- 
graphical changes, as well as of the pro- 
gress of the political and statistical sci- 
ences that occurred in 1808. By M. 
‘Berruce. — 
The epoch during which we live, is so 
fertile in events, and has produced so 
Many singular and important changes, 
that the Germans already begin to com- 
‘pose books, for the express purpose of 
registering the occurrences. M. Ber- 
tuch, in his “ Geographical Epheme- 
rides,” has been at infinite pains to fol- 
_dow the career of Buonaparte, and point 
out, with his pen, those striking alter- 
ations which the other has accomplished 
with the sword. 
« The summer of 1808,”’ we are told, 
£© put an end to the continental war, and 
to the grandeur of a kingdom which had 
formerly become respeciable, in conse- 
guence of the personal talents of Fre- 
derick II, ‘his stare has been preci- 
pitated, as if by enchantment, from its 
former elevation, while two new mo- 
narchies have been erected in the centre 
of Europe, This, and’all the great events 
of the year 1808, are connected with the 
‘grand project of the aggrandisement of 
France on the continent, and the entire 
expulsion of the English from that por- 
tion of the globe. The events of Italy 
were but of little importance, The 
hounds set to the secular power of the 
Pope, the disappearance of Etruria from 
the catalogue of states, and the change of 
the sovereign of the two Sicilies, which 
would at any other time have set all 
Europe in flames, scarcely attracted pub- 
Jic attention for a single moment. The 
King of Sweden had determined to con- 
tend with, unequal forces, but all his 
efforts proved unable to save Finland. 
Byzantium has become the theatre of the 
anost bloody scenes, and has changed its 
sovereigns twice; Servia is absolutely 
separated from the Porte, and there are 
-but a very few Pachas who now obey the 
vworders of that court. Mean while, the 
eyes of the world are fixed on the great 
events now occurring in the west—on 
.679 
the terrible contest between the ocean 
and the continent; but as the war on.the 
part of the two great rival powers of 
France and Britain is nat yet concluded, 
we cannot either ascertain, or narrate 
the result. Ag 
“ Every revolving year produces an augs 
mentation of knowledge, both in respect 
to countries and nations. The harvest 
in this point of view has been eminently 
abundant, in the course of the !ast twelve 
months: for during this period, we have 
obtained not only vall the intelligence 
produced by the travels of Messrs. Hum- 
boldt and Bonpland, in South America, 
but much information also from the voy= 
age of M. Peron, in the South Sea. M. 
Robin has, at the same tiime, made us 
better acquainted with the internal parts 
of Louisiana, and Florida; while Father 
Paulin de Saint Barthelemi, and M. 
Sonini, have given us additional infor- 
mation relative to the East Indies. We 
still, however, impatiently expect the de- 
taiis of the Voyage of M. Krusenstern 
round the Worid, From time to time, 
we receive news of M. Setzen, the Ger- 
man traveller, who is at present in Ara- 
bia. M. Haenk!l, a Bohemian, who 
sailed round the world with Malaspina, 
now resides in South America, and is 
busied in a narrative of the particulars. 
The Chevalier de Hoeglmiiller has been ~ 
prevented, by the wars there, from under- 
taking the journey projected by him to 
the East. 
“Tn the mean time, geography and to~ 
pography have been enriched in Ger- 
many, by the works of M, Biisching, con- 
tinued by Messrs. Ebeling and Ribs, the 
Manuals of M. Liechtenstern and Stein, 
the General Geography of M. Stein, and 
of M, Schutz, together with the Physical 
Geography of M. Kant. Among the 
French works, the most remarkable in 
this point of view, are the “Cours Comes 
plet de Topographie,” by M. A. Moitie ; 
and the “ Ephemerides Geographiques 
Generales.” Statistical’ literature has 
been enriched by two theories, the one 
by M. Niemann, and the other by’M, 
Butte. ‘La Literature de la Statis- 
tique,” by M. Meusel, was finished during 
the preceding year; and the “Tables 
Statistiques” of M. Hassel, were com- 
pleted towards the “conclusion of the 
present. ‘The statistical science was in- 
vented in our own time, and has made a 
most rapid progress towards improve- 
ment, Any one may easily convince 
himself of this fact, by comparing the 
tables published by M. Randel, in 1794, 
wise 
