Retrofpeét of French Literature—Children’s and School Books, 627 
that the peafants were accuftomed to 
pray for aghail-ftorm—that, their harveft 
thus becoming lefs abundant, the ex- 
pences of gathering their grapes would 
alfo be diminifhed, and thus afford 
them a pretence for paying lefs to the 
ftate, 
‘© Rofabelle ; ou, Ja Caverne,” &c. 
Rofabelle; or, the French Cavern, x 
vol. 18mo. : 
_ This is a publication of no reputa- 
tion whatever, being entirely deftitute 
of all the eflential requifites of a ro- 
mance. 
“« Le Confcrit; ou, le Billet de Loge- 
ment,” &c. The Confcript; or, the 
Soldier’s Billet, by H. Lemaire, Au- 
thor of La Pauvre Rentiere, 1 vol. 8vo. 
with Plates, Paris. 
A young man of letters having been 
obliged to forfake his pen, and {natch 
up hrs fword, notwithftanding all his 
endeavours to efcape the law of con- 
{cription, is fent to the barracks, and 
incorporated into a regiment then un- 
der orders to march to the frontiers. 
After a variety of vain and ufelefs at- 
tempts to defert, this foldier, who had 
determined not to become a hero, fets 
out with his battalion to join the army 
of the Rhine. 
the courfe of his march, to receive a 
billet entitling him to a night’s lodg- 
ing at a certain houfe, he began to 
flatter hinifelf that he fhould find a 
pretty maid, good quarters, &c. He 
accordingly prepared a little compli- 
ment for the occafion. It being dark 
when he arrived, he prefented his diet 
to a' female whom he could not fee; 
but to his inexnreffible furprife, on ut- 
tering his high-flown eulogiums, the 
fhrill fonorous voice of an old woman 
called out—Help ! help ! murder! and 
the poor recruit was immediately feized, 
and carried to the guard-houfe. 
Soon after this, he difcovers that 
the good old lady who had got him 
confined, was aunt to a_ beautiful 
and young female, being mformed that 
a foldier intended to carry her niece a. 
Jove-letter from her f{weetheart, fup- 
pofed that fhe had been lucky enough 
to intercept it. Having been liberated 
in confequence of the explanation that 
took place, in the morning the young 
lady in queftion is incited by curiofity 
to fee the prifoner, and, falling in 
love with him, they are immediately 
married. Notwithftanding this, the 
bridegroom is obliged to join his corps, 
and, haying diftingwfhed himfelf in 
Happening one day, in. 
an engagement, he receives a commif- 
fion. 
This little romance may be confider- 
ed as a petition to the French Govern- - 
ment in favour of men of letters, who * 
are in general more folicitous to en- 
lighten their countrymen, than to de- 
fend their country. 
CHILDREN’S AND SCHOOL-BOOKS. 
“« Cours de Cofmographie, de Chro- 
nologie,”’ &c. A Courfe of Cofmogra- 
phy, Chronology, Geography, and An- 
cient and Modern Hiltory ; divided 
into i125 Leffons, by MENTELLE,Mem- 
ber of the National Inftitute, 3 vols. 
8vo. with Plates, and an Atlas confift.. 
ing of fifteen coloured Maps, Paris. 
This work confifts of two parts :— 
the firdt contains cofmography, g€o- 
graphy, and ancient hiftory until the 
time ‘of the crufades, and completes 
vol. 1. The fecond prefents the conti- 
nuation of geography and modern hif- 
tory up to the ninth year of the French 
Republic, and is divided into two vo- 
lumes,,one of which:1is dedicated to 
modern Europe, while the other con- 
tains Afia, Africa, and Ainerica.’ 
‘< Le Nouveau Robinfon,” &c. The 
New Robinfon Crufoe, a Work intend- 
ed forthe Amufement and Inftruction 
of Children ; tranflated from the Ger- 
man of M. CaMPE, 2 vols. 12mo, Ge- 
neva and Paris. . 
The author of the New Robinfon 
Crufoe endeavours, throughout the 
whole of thefe two little volumes, to | 
inftruct children by exciting their cu- 
riofity. By interefting their feelings, 
he alfo attempts to generate in their 
breafts a noble enthufiafm for virtue 
and morality. His leflons are in the 
fhape of dialogues between a father 
and his children, containing all the ele- 
mentary knowledge neceflary for in- 
fancy. In purfuance of an idea fug~ 
gefted by Rouffeau, Robinfon Crufoe is 
exhibited in his ifland, deprived of all 
the conveniences of life, but fupplying 
thefe by his ingenuity and induftry. 
** Fables d’Efope,”” &c. The Fables 
of Efop, reprefented by means of 
prints; with an Explanation of the 
principal Events of his Life; engraved 
by the beft Artifts, and intended for 
the Inftruétion of Children of both 
Sexes, Paris, 2 vols. gto. Price 8, Fr. 
This edition of the Fables of Efop 
contains no le{s than fixty plates, which 
are engraved with great care. 
«s Abrégé de la Grammaire Fran- 
gaife,” &c, An Abridgment of the 
French 
