Vor. VI] 
to the following heads: 1. Geometry, 
Aftronomy, and Mechanics. 2. Phyfics. 
3. Chemiftry. 4. Anatomy. 5. Zoology. 
6. Mineralogy. 7. Botany. 8. Examina- 
tion of the nature of the air. g. Examina- 
tion of water. It is confolatory, that 
notwithftanding the proceedings and dif- 
coveries made in the courfe of the voyage 
were unfortunate to the lives of Péroule 
and his companions, they were not fo 
either to their fame, or the interefts of 
{cience or fociety. (For a more parti- 
cular account, fee our laft vol. p. 445.) 
Mr. FELTHAM'S ‘‘ Tour through the Iflond 
of Alenn”? contains much intereiting in- 
tormation, relative to its hiltory, confti- 
tution, laws, commerce, agriculture, fith- 
ery, &c. Some of us recollect with plea- 
fure the tour through this ifland which 
Mr. David Robinfon publifhed about half 
adozen years ago. Dr. Mayor's “ Bri- 
tifh Tourifis” is an uieful compilation. 
BIOGRAPHY. 
The work which principally excites at- 
tention in this department is Dr. Bis- 
seT’s * Life of Edmund Burke.” It is 
unfortunate for this great man that he has 
hitherto had no biographer of competent 
ability, judgment, and impartiality : 
Mr. M‘CorMICcK’s memoirs were mea- 
gre, and the comparifon inftituted between 
different paffages in the works and {peeches 
of this celebrated fenator, in order to efta- 
blifh a charge of inconfiltency, ufurped a 
very immederate portion: of the volume. 
If, in his narrative, Mr. M‘CormIckK, 
however, appeared fomewhat in the cha- 
racter of a counfel for the profecution, 
the pleadings of Dr. Bisser in behalf 
of his client equally remind us of the 
fophiitry and circumlocution of a barrilter. 
Dr. BisseT appears to have had in view 
two objects: firft, to repzl the charge 
which has been fo powerfully urged again 
Mr. Burke, of political inconiittency; the 
Doétor works hard at this unprofitable 
tafk—this filyphean labour. Indeed one 
confequence is obvious: if Mr. Burke re-, 
mained through lite a confiitent fenator, 
then all thoie friends, with whom in the 
early period of his career he aéted in unt- 
fon, and againft whom in latter lite he 
acted in oppolition—nay, in decided and 
inveterate hoftility, mult take the dilgrace 
of political obliquity on their own 
fhoulders; Mr. Burke’s biographer, with- 
out hefitation, throws this difgrace upon 
them! this is.the frit objeét; the laft, 
perhaps not the leaft, appears to be the 
difplay of Dr. BissetT’s ‘ variegated 
powers” and ‘ ratiocinative’’ itrength : 
hew otherwile is to be accouated itor, 
Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature....Biography. 
OO 
5°3 
that multifarious and irrelevant matter — 
with which this biography is burdened ? 
fo much criticifm, fo much metaphyfice, 
fo much difquifition, and fuch {efquipe- 
dalian periods! Dr. Bisset, however, 
is by no means without merit ; his volume 
contains much interefting information re- 
lative to the private life of Mr. Burke, ’ 
and throughout the whole, he has evinced 
a laudable and Jarge fhare of induftry. 
M. Cuery, the French king’s valet de 
chambre, has publithed “* 4 Fournal of 
what happened at the Tower of the Tem- 
ple during the captivity of Levis XVI.” 
We {carcely remeinber that a more heart- 
rending narrative has come beforé us! It 
begins at the epocha of the roth of Aus 
guft, when M: CLERY was in the fervice 
of the Dauphin.. We fhould hope it is 
quite impoflible for an Englifhman to 
form a conception of the brutal and in- | 
fulting treatnient, the infamous outrages 
which this unfortunateman fuffered during . 
lis confinement: but if the character of 
cowardly unfecling ruffians attaches to the 
guards of Lewis, in what language are 
we to exprefs our abhorrence of thofe 
meaner cowards, thofe more hardened and 
unfeeling ruffians who could employ them! 
who could expofe an illuftrious fufferer, 
a fallen, and now harmlefs monarch, un- 
protected, to the fcoffs and cruel mocke 
eries of a fet of dirty municipal officers ! 
M. CLeRyY’s journal is written with a 
mildnefs the moft engaging, with a fim- 
plicity and artlelfnefs the moft touching ! 
The Bisnop of Lonpow has publifhed 
a new edition (the fifth) of his “* Review 
of the Life and Charaéter of the Right Rev. 
Dr. Thomas Secker, late Lord Archbifhop 
of Canterbury.” Dr. Smiru’s * Life of 
St. Columbia, the Apoftle and Patron Saint 
of the ancient Scots and Pidis, &c.” con- 
tains a great number of marvellous ftories, 
fome tending to the glory of God, and 
fome to the glory of the faint; the greater 
part of which, it is evident, obtain credit 
trom the faithful biographer. ‘The Life 
of the Rev. Fames Coigley ; Obfervations 
on his Trial; an Addrefs to the People of 
Iréland ; and feveral interefling letters” 
are publifhed, ‘* all auritten by bhimfelf, 
during his confinement in Maidftone Gaol.” 
“ The Biographical Memoirs of Eighty 
living Pubic Charafers of 1798” are writ- 
ten with accuracy and impartiality; this 
publication is to be continued annually, 
and promifes to enjoy a large fhare of 
popularity. A tranilation has appeared of 
Citizen CORANCEZ” ‘%* Anecdotes of the 
tewelve lat Years of the Life of 7.f. Rouf~ 
feau;” they are interefting yn the bighett 
. degree 5 
¢ 
~ 
