632 
“« Coup-d’oeil politique fur l’Europe, 
&c.”” A political Survey of Europe, at 
the Clofe of the Eighteenth Century, by 
J.B. a French citizen, 2 vols. 8vo. Paris. 
The author of this political furvey 
divides his work ipto two parts. Inthe 
firit he fketches the fituation of France, 
from the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle to the 
prefent period, and while reviewing the 
conduct of the other powers, he confi- 
ders England and Aultria as the caufe of 
the prefent difaftrous war. He after- 
wards examines the novel fituacion into 
which France has been thrown by the 
revolution, and points out the import- 
ance of that republic in the new fyltem of 
Europe. 
The fecond part contains a variety of 
remarks onthe different flates of Europe, 
fo far as they may be conneéted with 
France, and alfo as to their relative fitua- 
tions in refpect to each other. 
It is the aim and intention of the 
author, in the prefent work, to difcul- 
pate France from all fhare.in the origin 
of hoftilities, and to throw the crimes of 
the revolutionary conteft on the ambition 
of the two powers mentioned above. 
Whether this be the cafe or not, it is 
evident that the propofitions for a general 
peace, contained in the project here an- 
nounced, would leave all Europe at the 
mercy of the new republic, which would 
be thus rendered the arbitrefS of the de- 
flinies of other nations, in confequence of 
the preponderance fhe would neceffarily 
attain. 
While alluding to the times of Robef- 
Pierre, the author defcants with much 
eloquence ‘‘ on thofe horrible davs when 
the holieft of all ties were broken, and 
every thing that conneétcd man with 
humanity was diffolved ; when accufa- 
tion was confidered as a virtuous aét, and 
perfidy a proof of eivi/m; when our op- 
preffors, while proclaiming their fright- 
ful principles, covered a country hereto- 
fore beloved by Heaven with a veil of 
blood, and coniecraced their deftruétive 
dogma by means of an equality of ruin 
and misfortunes. What a difaftrous pe- 
riod, when the number of vié¥ims wearied 
out the arms of the executioners, and 
when man, amidf& our moft populous 
Cities, was more alone than in the receffes 
of a defert; when the folitude, the 
terror, aad the filence of the tomb 
re'gned every where around; when it 
was dangerous to Jament the death of a 
father or of a fon, and the young widow 
Retrofpect of French Literature.—Legiflation and Politics. 
dared not to weep at the untimely fate of 
her late hufband! Ah! let us efface, if 
pofhible,’’ adds he, * the remembrance 
of thofe calamitous times ! ! !”’ 
“¢ Tdée des Abus exiftans dans |’Ordre 
de proceder en Matiére criminelle, &c.’” 
An Idea of the exifting Abufes, in re- 
fpeét to criminal Proceedings, and of 
the Means of remedying them; by G. 
** * > Subftitute to the Commiffary of 
the Government of the Criminal Tri- 
bunal of the Seine ; 12mo. Paris. 
The ancient ciiminal jurifprudence 
of France was adminiftered in fo unbe- 
coming and thameful a manner, that its 
glaring defeéts, added to its notorious 
partiality and injuftice, contributed not 
a little to bring about the revolution. 
Accordingly, when that event took place, 
the cry of the whole nation refounded in 
favour of a new code, and new forms of 
proceeding ; juries were, therefore, ap- 
pointed in imitation of fimilar tribunals 
in this country, and it was hoped that 
the day had arrived, when the life and 
property of a Frenchman would be fo 
fenced in by juft and wife laws, that in- 
nocence fhould remain inviolable, and 
crime be alone punifhed. 
This indeed, has, in fome degree, 
taken place, but yet it appears, from the 
work now before us, that the inftitution 
of juries has not been, as yet, organized 
in a proper-manner ; that the choice of 
the jurymen depends too much on the 
difcretion of the officers of government ; 
and, in fhort, that the police of this de- 
partment is fo badly regulated, that in- 
fiead of vice being fubjeét to immediate 
punifhment, it too often efcapes with 
impunity, and returns to the commiffion 
of new crimes. 
‘< Paitage de l'Europe, &c.’’ The 
Partition of Europe, or moral, geogra- 
phical, and political Obfervations on 
the Situation of the natural Limits and 
the Iaterefts of all the States of Europe, 
which may ferve as the Bafis to a Treaty 
of Peace. By an Inhabitant of the Banks 
of the Rhine. Paris. 
The author of this pamphlet confiders 
*‘ the courle of great rivers and chains 
of mountains as the barriers which na- 
ture has placed between the different 
countries of the univerfe.” He accord- 
ingly wifhes, that in the negociations for 
a general peace, this grand diftinétion 
may not be overlooked. 
‘¢ Aux Helvetiens, fur leurs Mal- 
heurs, &c.” To the Helvetians, on their 
Misfortunes, . 
— 
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