642 
the vegetable Kingdom. Parts I.and II. 
in one volume, 8vo. Baudoin, Paris. 
This work contains, 1. the elementary 
letters of J. J. Rouffeau on botany; 2.a 
fupplementary introduétion to the ftudy 
of this {cience ; 3. a defcription of more 
than four thoufand European plants, dif- 
tributed after the manner of Linnzus, 
in claffes, orders, fections, genera, fpecies, 
and varieties. Io which is added, a 
table, in Latin and French, of the genera: 
the natural families, and the trivial 
names, are alfo given in French, witha 
complete vocabulary of all the technical 
terms. : 
“¢ Code de Morale, pour fervir a l’In 
firuétion de la Jeuneffe, &c.’’ A Code of 
Morals, for the inftruction of Youth, 1 
vol. r2mo. Paris. 
_ This little work is drawn up in the 
form of a diétionary, and is equally cal- 
culated to cultivate the memory and mend 
the heart. 
‘© Elemens, ou Principes Phyfico-chi- 
miques, &c.’’, Elements, or Phyfico-che- 
mical Principles, for the ufe of the cen- 
tral Schools. By MATHURIN JACQUES 
Brisson, rvol. 8vo. Paris. 
The venerable Briffon has devoted 
many years to the ftudy of the {ciences. 
While he refided with the illuftrious 
Reaumur, during the laf eight years of 
his life, he took advantage of the fuperb 
cabinet of the celebrated author of ‘* Mé- 
moires fur les Infeétes,” and attached 
himfelf to the fiudy of natural hiftory. 
After attaining confiderable emimence by 
his obfervations on birds and quadrupeds, 
he applied himfelf firft to the ftudy of 
chemiftry, and then to the praétice of ex- 
perimental philofophy. 
The work now before us contains a 
concentrated analyfis of Briffon’s acqui- 
fitions in chemiftry, as well as in natural 
philofophy. He begins by laying down 
general principles, after which appears 
the hiftory of the aériform fluids, and 
this affords him an opportunity of ex- 
pounding and exhibiting the component 
parts of the atmofphere. The element 
of water is examined in its different 
ftates, of ice, liquor, and vapour; ard the 
fimple bodies, or thofe not hitherto de- 
compofed, fuch as caloric, azote, hydro- 
gene, carbon, fulphur, phofphorus, and 
the metals, are claffed and animadverted 
upon in fucceffion. 
Lithology comprehends the hiftory of 
different kinds of earths or ftones, which 
are only an aggregation of the former. 
Chalk, magnefia, barytes, alym, the fili- 
Retrofpedt of French Literature.—School Books. 
ceous or vitrifiable earth, faline and none 
faline ftones and earths, then pafs in 
review ; after this, we come to thofe bril- 
liant filiceous compofitions denominated 
gems, or precious ftones, dedicated to the 
purpofes of luxury, but which in the eyes 
of the philofephiacl naturalift are nothing 
better than fo many pebbles. Under 
this head, we learn, that there is a fure 
and certain mode of diftinguifhing the 
oriental from the occidental jewels, by 
the greater hardnefs, durability, and re- 
frangibility of the former. ‘The volcanic 
produétions clofe the feries. 
The metals are next arranged in order, 
and it might have been better, perhaps, 
if the learned author had negleéted the 
popular divifions into imperfeét and demi- 
metals; expreffions, the faultinefs of 
which hath been demonfirated by medern 
chemiftry. é' 
After treating at confiderable length 
on the former fubje€&t, we come to the 
alkalies, and their combinations with 
acids : fire, that univerfal agent, is the 
fubjeét of particular examination; its 
nature, its mode of aétion, and its effects 
on bodies, terminate Briffon’s very ufeful 
work. The plates are calculated to ex- 
hibit the greater part of thefe chemical 
‘operations, which it would be difficult te 
comprehend by means‘of a fimple de- 
{cription. 
In this work, the reader is not taught 
to expect either new difcoveries, or even 
new ideas, it being merely the intention 
of the author to concentrate phyfico-che- 
mical knowledge in fuch a manner as to_ 
prove ufeful to ftudents. 
“ Vocabulaire Ortographique,” &c.— 
Orthographical Vocabulary, according 
to the Order of the Sounds ; or, a Me- 
thodical Defcription of all the Sounds 
appertaining to the French Language. 
By C. F, J. Fonratne, Profeffor of 
the French Language, 1 vol. 8vo. 
This vocabulary contains the folution 
of all the difficulties that occur in refpect 
to the different figns which peint the 
fame found, together with the eee 
ment of the confonants, whether fimple, 
double, mute, or fonorous, accompanied 
with precife rules and alphabetical tables. 
«Nouveau Syftéme de LeGture,” &c.” 
—A new Syftem of Reading, applicable 
to all Languages. By J. B. Mauprv, 
Profeffor in the Normal School of the 
Department of the Seine, and Member 
of the Academical Scciety of Sciences 
at Paris: a claffical work, adopted by 
the Government, Paris. | 
This 
