Retrofpedt of French Literature Hiftory, es 667 
Francaife, par Lacretelle le jeune, 1 
vol. in-18, avec 2 Gravures, Paris, 
Prix 4 fr. et franc de port 5 fr.’—An 
Historical Summary of the French Re- 
volution, &c. by LACRETELLE. 
The author of this little work, of 
which the firft volume only has yet 
made its appearance, 1s a man of fome 
confideration in France, being a Mem- 
ber of the National Inftitute and the 
ConfervativeSenate. The firft idea of this 
publication was taken from a fimilar 
one, conceived, and in part executed, 
by Rabaud de St. Etienne, who detail- 
ed the events of the earlier periods of 
the revolution, in the fame manner as 
Lacretelle now attempts the hiftory of 
that period, in which the legiflative 
affembly governed France, and he con- 
cludes at the memorable epoch when 
the King of Pruffia thought fit to com- 
mence his retreat from Champagne. 
«© Recherches Hittoriques fur Jes 
principales Nations établies en Sibérie, 
et dans les Pays adjacens, lors de la 
Conquéte des Ruffles; ouvrage traduit 
du Rufle, par le Citizen SoLLEn- 
WERCK, Ancien Officier des Carabi- 
niers, au Service de la Ruffie, 1 vol. 
3vo. de 300 p. Paris, Prix 3 fr..et franc 
de port 4 fr.”—Huitorical Refearches 
relative to the principal Nations efta- 
blifhed in Siberia, and the adjacent 
Countries,” &c. 
Citizen Sollenwerck informs us, in 
the Preface to his tranflation, that the 
notes which he has added are taken 
from the beft Ruffian authors, particu- 
larly the Geographical Dictionary of 
the Empire of Ruffia, compofed by Fé- 
dor Polounnin, and revifed by Profef- 
for Miller, in 1771. Sibir, Sibiri, or 
Sibiria, according to the orthography 
employed on this occafion, appears to 
have been inhabited for many ages by 
nations known to the Ruffian writers 
by the generical name of Tchoudes, 
which fome fuppofe to be the Scythi- 
ans; but nothing certain is known 
concerning them, anterior to the time 
of Tchinkis-Khan. 
The country is reprefented as rich 
in mines of iron, copper, and lead. 
The rivers abound with fifth; but the 
fpecies termed craw-fi/h is no where to 
- be found. The forefts are extenfive, 
and replete with wild animals, andthe 
bones of many unknown kinds are fre- 
quently found there. Apples, we are 
_ told, may be produced; but, although 
they poflefs both the favour and form, 
they are faid not to exceed a common 
pea in point of fize! 
‘¢ Hiftoire du Directoire Exécutif de 
la République Frangaife, depuis fon 
Inftallation, jufgu’au 18 Brumaire, in- 
clufivement, fuivie de Piéces juttificas 
tives, Paris, 9 fr. et franc de port 12 
fr.’—Hiftory of the Executive Direc- 
tory of the French Republic, from its 
Inftallation until the 18th of Brumaire, 
inclufive, &c. 
This includes an important period 
of the hiftory of France. While read- 
ing an account of the war of La Ven- 
dée, we learn with pleafure, that reli- 
gious toleration was one of the moft 
efficacious meafures recurred to, in 
order to produce the pacification that 
afterwards took place in that unhappy 
and defolate country. 
** Vie Privée, Politique, et Littéraire, 
de Beaumarchais; fuivie d’Anecdotes, 
Bons-mots, Satyres, Epigrammes, &c, 
Sans la liberté de blamer, il n’eft point 
D’eloge flatteur.—Ficaro. 
Paris, 1 vol, 12mo. 2 fr.”"—The Pri- 
vate, Political, and Literary Life of © 
Beaumarchais ; accompanied with An- 
ecdotes, &c. 
The life of Beaumarchais was a bu- 
fy one, replete with intrigues, quarrels, 
difputes, and hair-breadth efcapes, and 
therefore capable of affording enter- 
tainment, if not inftruction. On en- 
tering the lowly cottage where he 
drew his firft breath, we perceive him 
difdaining the humble trade that gave 
bread to his father, leaving the pater. 
nal dwelling with a guitar on his back, 
and amufing the peafantry in order to 
obtain a living. Soon after this, we 
behold him receiving admiflion into 
the palaces of kings, giving leffons on 
the harp to two princefles. and expe~ 
riencing their liberaiity and protection. 
Beaumarchais, at length, became a 
politician, a contra¢ior, and a poet. 
He alfo acted in the capacity of editor, 
or rather printer, of the works of Vol- 
taire; and when Prince Henry ot Pru 
fia exainined his preffes at Fort Kell, 
in 1784, and afiifted in the typographi- . 
cal labours with his own band, he 
found that he had been undefignediy 
compofing the following lines in praife 
of himfelf:— — | 
*¢ Augufte ami des arts, arbitre des guerriers, 
Que Mars et les Neuf-foeurs couvrent de leurs 
lauriers 5 . 
Au 
