. 
260 
able period, has been carried to a greater de- 
ree of perfection than in any former age; 
and the young tacticians of the new school 
have overcome generals grown hoary under 
arms. The machinery of battles has been 
calculated on a more gigantic scale; fleets 
have not only fought with greater fierce- 
ness, but exhibited evolutions hitherto 
unknown or unpractised; a single army 
sometimes extended its wings from the fron- 
tiers of France to the heart of Italy, while at 
other periods, one immense line of soldiers 
has occupied the intervening countries from 
the banks of the Rhine to the shores of the 
Adriatic.” 
The introduction is too far fetched. 
Tts first section contains au historical sur- 
vey of the conquests and jurisprudence 
of the Romans, which are certainly not 
among the predisposing causes of the 
revolution of France. The origin of 
the feudal system deserved indeed en- 
quiry ; because its overthrow constitutes 
the most characteristic feature of the le- 
gislative innovations of the Parisians. 
The history and progress of the anti- 
christian sect merited perhaps a more 
minute investigation, as it formed the 
fanatical substratum, the bond of opi- 
nion, which had most influence in confe- 
derating the disinterested zeal of the 
French. 
The first book begins with the decla- 
ration of war, and extends to the retreat 
of the Prussians. More attention should 
have been paid by an English historian 
of these transactions, to the share and 
the narrative of General Money. 
‘The second book extends from the 
capture of Worms, to the political em- 
barrassment of Dumourier. 
The third book includes the execution 
of Louis XVI. and the subsequent ope- 
rations, to the failure of the Duke of 
York before Dunkirk. A just censure 
on the conduct of the admiralty, is tem- 
perately passed in these words: 
«- Thus ended the fatal attempt upon Dun- 
kirk, in the course of which the English ar- 
my assuredly did not receive that assistance 
and co-operation by sea, which it was in the 
power of a great maritime nation to have af- 
ped’; while the enemy by their numbers, 
their audacity, and their zeal, demonstrated 
that although the ruling party was capable of 
the most enormous crimes, it at the same 
time knew how to inspire enthusiasm, and 
ensure victory. So fariwere the French from 
being dazzled with the iate success, and the 
subsequent capture of Furnes and Menin, 
that Houchard was immediately arrested, and 
soon after put to death, because he had not 
completed his triumph by the capture of the 
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND STATISTICS. 
army destined to besiege Dunkirk. On the 
other hand, care was taken to reward such 
officers as had distinguished themselves ; and 
Jourdan, who had attacked the right and 
centre of the camp at Hondschoote, as well 
as Hoche, who had charged the left wing, 
were both promoted; a decree passed at the 
same time, declaring, ‘that the army of the 
North had deserved well of the country ;” 
and the representatives on mission were 
enjoined to transmit a detailed account of the 
heroic exploits of the defenders of the re- 
public.” 
The fourth book is occupied partly 
with the operations of the. combined 
fleets in the Mediterranean, and partly 
with the campaign on the Rhine, of 
which Hoche and Pichegru changed the 
fortune. 
The fifth book narrates the immense, 
the mortifying, the irreversable successes 
of France in 1794 and 1795. The re- 
conquest of Austrian Flanders, the over- 
running of Holland, the acquisitions 
along the Rhine, the seisure of the gates 
of Italy, successively occur, like the mes- 
sengers of woe, in the fifth act of a tra- 
gedy, with long catalogues of certain 
disasters, and the expectation of ap- 
proaching and greater devastation. The 
darkness of the picture is somewhat re- 
lieved by maritime triumph. : 
Of the second volume, the first book 
comprehends the treaties of peace with 
Tuscany, Prussia, Spain, Hanover, Hesse, 
and the insurgents of La Vendée. The 
conquests, or rather acquisitions of the 
English at Ceylon and the Cape, and 
their naval campaigns in the West In- 
dies and in the Mediterranean, are also 
included. Bonaparte’s brilliant success 
in Italy ; Moreau’s respectable manage- 
ment in Germany ; and the unwise eva- 
cuation of Corsica, were worthy to have 
formed a separate subdivision. 
The second book traces the progress 
of the war, from the treaty of Leoben to 
the capture of Minorca. 
seisure of Malta, is a fragment which it 
will yet be interesting to extract, as the 
fortunes of the island continue to engage 
‘a zealotry of hostile attention, more than 
commensurate with its statistical value. 
*« This little island, which was defended 
by its gallant knights for more than two hun- 
dred years against the whole power of the 
Mussulman empire, and had expelled the 
Sultaun Solyman with immense slaughter 
about the middle of the sixteenth century, 
was strongly fortified on all sides, but Valetta 
constituted its chief defence. That city is 
built on a peninsula; its walls are for the 
Bonaparte’s. 
— 
——_— 7 ~~ 
