Retrofpec? of Domeftic Literature.—Topography and Antiquities. 63%- 
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garth,” from piétures and drawings in 
his poffeffion. Many of the plates which 
this volume contains are well engraven, 
and fome of the defcriptions which attend 
them, animated and interefting. They 
are forty-nine in number. 
Mr. Apotruus has publithed the firft 
volume of his “ Britifi; Cabinet,” con- 
taining portraits of illuftrious perfonages 
engiaven from original pictures, with bio- 
graphical memoirs. We cannot fpeak in 
commendatory terms of this work; the 
engravings are of very unequal merit; 
the names of the original painters are not 
inferted, and many of the perfonages, 
whofe features are here exhibited and 
tranf{mitted to pofterity have not rendered 
themfelves objects of gratitude or venera- 
tion by the celebrity either of their actions 
or their talents ; it is to be hoped that Mr. 
Adolphus will evince'a little more judg~ 
ment in the future volumes of this work. 
Mr. PinKERTON, whofe honorable 
and perfevering zeal in the caufe of learn- 
ing is. known full well, has publifhed a 
very curious and elegant volume entitled 
*s The Scottifh. Galiery, or Portraits of ° 
eminent Perfons in Scotland, &c.” To 
this work is prefixed an Introdu€tion on 
the rife and progrefs of painting in Scot- 
land, which, like the biographical accounts 
of the charaéters reprefented, has only one 
fault, that of being too fhort. There are 
fifty-two portraits in this volume, moft 
of which, are thofe of perfons wha have 
rendered their names familiar to our ears 
by their eminence in arms, in honors, or 
in learning. Many of thefe portraits are 
taken from pictures by the celebrated. 
Jamefon,a pupil of Rubens, and copied 
by Mr. Robert Johnfon of Newcatftle, 
whofe miferable death is related by our 
author in a moft affecting manner. Mr. P. 
{tates in his preface, thatif encouragement 
fhould arife, another volume of the fize 
of the prefent would contain the moft 
curious of the remaining portraits. It is 
much to be hoped that the completion of 
fo interefting and able a work will not be 
impeded by the want of public patronage. 
ORIENTAL LITERATURE. 
The fifth and laft volume of the ‘“* Afi- 
atic Refearches,” printed from the Cal- 
cutta | edition, is now before the. public. 
It isva degrading reflection that there are 
at this time feveral gentlemen who are 
deterred by the want of patronage from 
exercifing their fkill in Eattern languages 
in the tranflation of many curieus and 
valuable works relative to the hiftory, 
civil and religious, of an ancient anda 
polithed people, 
Captain Scorr, the ingenious tranfla- 
tor of Ferithta’s Hiftory of Dekkan, and 
of the reigns of the late Emperors of 
Hindooftan, has juft tranflated from the 
Perfic of Einaiut Oollah, an Oriental ro- 
mance entitled ‘* Bahar-Danufh, or the 
Garden of Knowledge :’’ in the preface to 
thefe volumes he acknowledges his pre- 
dilection for hiftorical {ubjeéts, and tells 
us that by the advice of his friends and 
his bookfeller he undertook che tranflation 
of a romance as more likely, from its 
amufing nature, to remunerate him by its 
extent of fale for the labor and expenfe 
of pubjication!’’ ‘ Until the honorable 
Faft India Company,” fays he, ‘ or the 
Univerfity, fhall extend their patronage of 
Faftern literature to at leaft the gratuitous 
printing of its tranflations, we muft not 
be furprifed at Perfian and Arabian ¢ales 
from Orientalifis, who in general, cannot 
afford to wait the flow return of a “érary 
book.” Bahar Danuth abounds with he- 
roic atchievements, love intrigues, and 
marvellous adventures; the language and 
imagery have frequently all the glow 
and pomp of Oriental magnificence. 
Many excellent notes, illuftrative of ob- 
{cure paflages, are added by the ingenious 
tranflator, to whom we are alfo indebted 
for an iterefting volume of ‘ Tales, 
Anecdotes, and Letters, tranflated from 
the Arabic and Perfian,” in the feleétion 
of which are difplayed much judginent 
and tafte, and in the execution confiderable 
abilities. 
‘© The Story of Al Raoui”’ is an Ara- 
bian tale, mentioned in the pieface to 
Vathek, very characteriftic of Eaftern 
manners: it 1s tranflated into Englifh and 
German; the typography is beautiful. 
TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. 
“Iter Britanniarum; or that part of 
the Itinerary of Antoninus which relates 
to Britain, with ia new Comment by the 
Rev. Tuomas Reynotps, A. M.” 
The commentators who have attempted 
an explanation of this //ex, at leaft of that 
part of it which relates to Britain, are nu- 
merous; although many, however, have 
incidentally touched upon it, not any we 
believe have exprefsly made it the fubjeét 
of inguiry, within the lat century, eX- 
cepting Mr. Reynolds, who juftly con- 
ceives that the materials of elucidation are 
now more numerous than at any former 
period; many Roman antiquities, havin 
been found in different parts of our ifland, 
our maps being improved, and the di- 
fiances of towns being now accurately 
afcertained. With thefe advantages be~~ 
fore him, My. Reynolds engaged in the 
4 M undere 
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