510 BIOGRAPHY. 
“metaphysical investigations that had 
long engaged his attention. ‘The result 
‘ef his meditations was, a series of Zssays’ 
on the intellectual Powers of Man; which 
appeared in 1785, and a treatise on the 
active powers, published in 1788. These 
works, although they encountered some 
opposition in Scotland,and were severely 
and somewhat illiberally attacked by 
Dr. Priestley, raised the character of 
their author to considerable eminence, 
as a sagacious observer of the pheno- 
mena of mind. Having thus terminated 
his public literary labours, Dr. Reid 
occupied the last eight years of his life 
in retracing the mathematical pursuits 
of his earlier years, in the investigation 
of the new and more philosophical prin- 
ciples of modern chemistry, and in com- 
posing occasionally short essays for 
triendly discussion in a philosophical 
Agr. XV. The Revolutionary Plutarch; exhibiting the nioct distinguished Characters, \ 
literary, military, and political, in the recent Annals of the French Republic; the greater 
Part from the original Information of a Gentleman resident at Paris. To which, as am 
Appendix, is reprinted entire, the celebrated Pamphlet of “ Killing no Murder.” 
"Two vols. 
Arr. XVI. . History of the French Consulate under Napoleon Bonaparte: being an.au« 
‘thentic Narrative of his Administration, which is sa litile known in Foreign 
“Fucluding a Sketch” of his Life. The whole interspersed with curious Anecdotes, and a 
faithful Statement of interesting Transactions until the Renewal of Flostilities in 1803. 
By We Barre, Witness to many of the Facts related in the Narrative, : 8vQ,, pp« 5356 
-FEAR isalways cruel. ‘The Romans 
had once been driven to the very brink 
of ruin by the abilities of Hannibal, and 
never after thought themselves secure till 
their persecutions had driven the exiled 
warrior to self-destruction. The ambi- 
tion of Louis XIV. was-stopped in the 
midst of its career by William III: and 
when the vietorious arms of the confede- 
rates were on the. point of inflicting on 
France the desolation which had attend- 
ed'the march of her troops through the 
states of Germany, and the’provinces’ of 
Belgium, a plot to assassinate the _re- 
deemer of the liberties of Europe was 
contrived by the French ministry, and 
sanctioned by its monarch. The unge- 
nerous policy of England filled dreland 
with disaffection, and her alarmed mini- 
sters of torture were let loose to quell, 
by means which would have disgraced 
even an Alva; the commotions:.of her 
own raising. Bonaparte has threatened 
- discussion. 
society of which he was a member, 
Thus agreeably employed, respected by. 
the public, beloved by his friends, and 
retaining a considerable share both of 
mental and bodily activity, he reached 
Ais eighty-seventh year; when a violent 
oe terminated his life, after an in- 
effectual struggle of about a fortnight, 
on the 7th of October 1796. 
The principal part of the volume be- 
fore us is occupied by remarks upon Dr. 
Reid’s metaphysical works,and a defence 
of his system from some fundamental 
objections. On some points. Professor 
Stewart has successfully vindicated his 
venerable tutor; but on others we are} 
of opinion that he has completely failed. 
The total indifference, however, of the. 
English ‘public, to the subject in ques- 
tion, deters us from. entering into the} 
We ( 
Vv 
vy | 
ountricse 
us with invasion, and Englishmen have 
been found to propose an atrocious. and 
unsparing warfare, which in modern 
times has been commanded only by Ro 
bespierre, and has ‘been practised ‘by 
none. Inthe late war and in the pre- 
sent the British ministry has been loudly 
accused of participating in, and encou- 
raging those plans of assassination, which 
have been directed against the person o 
the chief magistrate of France. Let the 
ministry, if they can with truth, vindicate 
themselves from so black a charge by aj 
solemn and authentic disavowal; and let 
the British public show the high honow 
and intrepid courage, for which they} 
have long been renowned, by consigning} 
to merited contempt and abhorrence a 
works, together with their authors, whos 
direct tendency is to degrade the gener- 
ous and high-spirited patriot into th 
lurking assassin. 
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