Retrofpeét of German Literature—Economy. 
Inquiries into the hiftory of f{cience and 
nations in general, and into the ancient 
philofophical literature in particular; yet 
the fermentation, which at prefent exifts 
in the philofophical- world, on the other 
hand, renders his work uncommonly 
difficult, expofing him to the partial de- 
mands and criticilms of two diametrically 
oppolite parties. While one party pro- 
tefts, that through the Kantian philofo- 
phy the proper key has been found for the 
hiftory of philofophy; the other charges 
with partiality all thofe who ‘only men- 
tion the new critical philofophy. The 
author of the prefent work was perfedtly 
‘acquainted with thefe difficulties; but 
alfo had the courage to face them voldly ; 
and although his work is not deftitute of 
imperfections, yet we feel « urfelves urged 
by a fenfe of juttice to declare, that the 
Jaft decennium has not produced a hiftory 
of philofophy fo complete and tyftematical 
as this beginning of Mr. Tennemann’s 
undertaking proves to be. Our readers 
will, however, not expeét that we fhould 
fubitantiate this opinion by proofs, as this 
would require much more room than we 
can {pare. 
“© Worterburch der Platoni(chen Philo- 
fophie, voh J. J. WAGNER, 17995 pp. 
LXX. u. 202, vo." Vocabulary of the 
Platonic philofophy.—The author com- 
poled this vocabulary, as he calls it, 
chiefly with an intention of unfolding the 
fpirit of the Platonic philofophy, and of 
furnifhing ftudents, who begin to read 
Piato’s works, with an explanatory ma- 
nual. Mr. Wagner has indeed difplayed 
an intimate acquaintance with the {pirit 
of the Platonic philofophy ; we muit, 
however, obferve, that this vocabulary 
would be much more complete and ufeful 
than it aéiually is, if he had not relied too 
mich upon hi own talents and§ con- 
fulred the works of others, the refult of 
whofe labours in the fame department of 
{cience would have afforded him ample 
means of rendering his book more perte&, 
as well with regard to matter as to form, 
CHEMIsTRY. 
“* Mineralogifches Taichenbuch, &c. 
von J.G. Lenz, Band J. 1798, Band il. 
1799.’ Mineralogical Pecet-Book, tor 
beginners and armateurs.—T he author bas 
the laudab'e intention to furnifh begin- 
ners, who have not the advantage of oral 
infruction in mineralogy, in thele vo- 
Jumes, with a guide to cifcern minerals 
by fixed external marks. However we 
doubt much whether the external charac- 
teritics which ke defcribes will be fuf- 
frcient fop-beyinners ; though his work 
1091 
may be ufeful for Audents who already 
have made {ome progrefs in mineralogy. 
“¢ Neues mineralogilches Worterbuch, 
&c. von Dr. F. A. REvSS, 1798, 8vo."" 
New mineralogical vocabulary, or cata- 
logue of all words relating to Oryktog- 
noiy and Geognofy, &c. alphabetically 
arranged, in the German, Latin, Frenchy 
Ttalian, Swedifh, Englifh, Ruffian, and 
Hungarian language, &c. &c. The 
Jearned author deferves the thanks of al 
lovers of mineralogy, e{pecially of the tyro, 
for the communication of this ufeful 
~work, which juftly may claim the ap- 
plaule of aJl mineralogifts. The ufetul- 
nefs of fuch a catalogue, in form of a Yo- 
cabalary, is obvious; particularly if it 
alfo comprehends the widely different de- 
nominations of the fame foflil which are 
made ufe of in the principal fyftematic. 
works on mineralozy. 
‘¢ Tafchenbuch fiir Freunde der Ge- 
birgfkunde, 1798, pp. 161, 8vo.’” Pocket- 
book for lovers of Oryktognofy.—The 
author’s intention is to collect and com- 
municate, from time to time, the lateft 
difcoveries in this department of fcience, 
which are fcattered in numerous, and 
partly expenfive, works. . Colleétions of 
this nature are indeed highly ufetul, if 
they be properly feleéted, which we muit 
allow to be the cafe in the prefent in- 
ftance. 
‘¢ Handbuch der Chemie zum Selbf- 
tunterricht, &c. &c. 1798, pp. 374, 8vo.”” 
Manual of Chemiftry, &c. explaining the 
principles of this {ctence in a generally 
intelligible manner, and deleribing its va- 
rious applications to arts, manufactures, 
and economy, é&c. &c. The author has 
indeed gathered the materials, contained 
inthis volume from the works of others ; 
however, he alfo has addwd, on numerous 
occafions, his own opinion, generally 
founded upon obfervations made by him- 
felt, or upon affertions of ancient and mo- 
dern natural philofophers, and has proved 
thac he is intimately acquainted with the 
feience on which he has written. 
CHCONOMY. 
«¢ Das Ganze der Federviehzucht, &c.: 
von Dr. J. Ch. GOTTHARD, 1798, pp. 
302, 8vo.”> Complete inftruction in the 
art of rearing and treating poultry, an ac- 
count of their various ules, and of the 
manner of curing their difea'es. It was, 
indeed, a dendevatum that this branch of | 
ceconomy fhould be treated upon in a fa- 
tisfactory manner by a pyrattical cecono- 
mift. The applaufe with which the Ger- 
man public has received the former writ- 
ings of Dr. Gotthard, will certainly pro- 
y by eure 
