508 
and in a very masterly manner. The 
estimate of the character of this Prince, 
both as a sovereign and as a man, we 
shall select, as an excellent specimen of 
the judgement and impartiality of the 
biographer. 
<¢ Frederic undoubtedly deserves a conspi- 
euous place among greaé princes. As a ge- 
neral, though he cominitted faults, yet his 
celerity and enterprize, his quickness in seiz- 
ing the precise moment of advantage, the 
comprehension and accuracy with which he 
directed complicated plans, his foresight in 
providing for all events and exigences, the 
boldness of his designs, and vigour of his exe- 
cution, have, perhaps, scarcely been surpassed 
since the time of Cesar. He was somewhat 
qoclined to rashness, but his situation ofien 
justified great hazards. ‘That he was lavish 
of the lives of his soldiers, was rather a defect 
in feeling than in judgment. ‘They were the 
instruments with which he was playing a 
great game, and he made it finally a winning 
one. [lis political talents were very conside- 
rable, and well adapted to absolute monarchy. 
As aman of letters he would probably have 
shone even independently of his rank, or ra- 
ther, perhaps the more, had he had the edu- 
cation and employment of a mere man of let- 
ters. His judgment was naturally solid, but 
in some degree perverted by his carly preju- 
dices in favour of the superficial French 
school. His conversation was lively and 
brilliant, often sareastical. He was quick at 
repartee, and readily felt it. A declared un- 
believer in revealed religion, his notions as to 
natural religion seem to have fluctuated ; 
but his ‘morals were uniformly guided by no 
other rule than his pleasure and interest. He 
appears to have had little sensibility, and was 
eapable of severe and even cruel actions. Vol- 
taire Once characterised him frony a marble 
table that stood before him—as hard and po- 
lished. Yet love of justice and humanity 
took their turns in his mind, and many ex- 
amples are related of his clemency and placa- 
bility.” 
The crafty Ferdinand of Spain and 
the gallant Francis of France are inte- 
‘resting and well executed portraits: the 
popes of the name of Gregory are faith- 
tully characterized by Mr. Morgan, and 
the sketch of the leading events in the 
busy reign of Gustavus III. of Sweden, 
attests the care and accuracy of Mr. 
Jobnston. 
Of the statesmen and political per- 
sonages, the most eminent in the present 
volume are, Franklin, the Guises, and 
Gracchi. Thomas Firmin, a London 
merchant, most honourably distinguished 
for his unwearied and extensive benevo- 
lence, though remarkable neither for 
science, literature, or rank, is very pro- 
BIOGRAPHY.» 
perly admitted among the worthies of © 
the human race, and is recorded in a 
manner suitable to his high merit. 
The life of Fox, the father of the sect — 
of Friends, or Quakers, is an extremely — 
interesting article, and contains some 
original information. Bernard Gilpin, 
the apostle of the north, is the subject 
of a very pleasing memoir, skilfully — 
abridged from the detailed account of 
this venerable divine, published by his 
descendant the vicar of Boldre. The 
ambitious and persecuting Bishop Gar- — 
diner affords a useful but horrible ex- 
ample of the diabolical spirit of religious — 
intolerance. A few new names appear 
among the cheolegals ; the principal of © 
which are, the learned. and irritable ~ 
Geddes, and Dr. Gerrard, professor of — 
divinity at Aberdeen, for the sketch of ~ 
whose life the present work is indebted 
to the Supplement to the Encyclopeedia | 
Britannica. a 
Grotius ‘stands pre-eminent among — 
the men of literature; he is evidently a 
favourite with his biographer, and has 
received peculiar and deserved attention. 
Gibbon, and Dr. Farmer, the late vices 
chancellor of Cambridge, here make 
their appearance for the first time, we | 
believe, in a work of general biography. — 
Several distinguished foreigners, also, 
hitherto only known by name to the 
British public, are introduced in this 
volume; among whom we have ob- 
served Filangeri, a learned Italian, au- 
thor of a celebrated work on the science 
of legislation; Fulda, the great Ger- 
man philologist; Galeani, the patron 
of the splendid map of the Neapolitan 
dominions; and Genovesi, a distin< 
guished professor of moral philosophy, 
at Naples. a 
The lives of Fieldmg, Foote, Gar- 
rick, Gay, Goldsmith, La Fontaine, — 
and Gray, are all from the pen of Dr, — 
Aikin, and contain a fund of excellent — 
criticism on the character of these au. 
thors and the literary rank of their works. 
By way of sample we shall quote the- 
concluding remarks on Gray. 7 
q 
«« Many instances may be brought to prove - 
that poets are not, more than other men, the 
creatures of passion, thoughtlessness, and ca-_ 
pete 3 and that of Gray is among the num-= 
er, Witha warm imagination, he had cook 
affections, anda calm sedate disposition. He 
was attentive ta economy, yet void of the 
least tincture of avarice. Delicacy, with res. 
spect to pecuniary matters, was, indeed, cara 
red by him to a degree of excess; for it made 
