- Retrofpect of French Literature-—Theology. 
Firma, would not have foftened and 
corrupted them.” 
But Venice, ‘although reduced in 
point of power and opulence, might 
have ftill exifted, had it not been for 
that unprincipled fyftem of partition, 
recently adopted by feveral great Euro- 
pean powers, and which is here confi- 
dered as the grand external caufe of her 
ruin. 
The following is the order, in which 
the author treats his fubject: Chap. I. 
contains an Account of the Grand 
Council and Senate.—Chap. IT. is de- 
dicated to the Signiory and College.— 
Chap. IiI. to the Quaranties.—Chap. 
IV. to the Council of ‘Ten, and the In- 
quifitors of State—Chap. V. to the 
Doge and the Correétors.—Chap. VI. 
to the Procurators of St. Marc, the 
Cenfors, and the Chevaliers -of the 
Golden Star.—Chap. VII. to the Pub- 
lic and Private Magiftrates.—Chap. 
Vill. to the Ducal Chancery.—Chap. 
IX. to the Clergy, and Cuap. X. to’ 
Finances, Military Force, Population, 
Character,and Education. Signor Cur. 
ti, not content with ftating the particu- 
lars of the ancient conftitution, is ea- 
ger topointout the fources of thofe evils 
which rendered the government at once 
tyrannical and odious. The inftitution 
of the Council of Ten 1s traced by him 
up to the year 1310. This tribunal 
was merely created at that period, on 
purpofe to obtain a temporary remedy 
for thofe dangers which menaced the 
commonwealth, and it appears evident 
that recourfe was had to the fame ex- 
pedient fo early as 1173. But, like the 
dictatorthip of ancient Rome, it became 
at length engrafted in the very trame 
and texture of the ftate, and was at firlt 
confirmed for two months, then for five 
years, and at length became perpetual. 
The inftitution of the tribunal of 
State-Inquifitors orig:nated in 1503. 
Its members, three in number, were 
not fubjected tothe flighteft retponfi- 
bility for their a¢tions, or obliged to 
render any account of their conduét, 
and the people when they alluded to it, 
were accuftomed to caft down their eyes, 
and elevate one of their fingers towards 
Heaven, as if to indicate the power en- 
joyed,and the terror occafioned by thofe 
entrutted with this office. 
Venice arifing out of a marfh, became 
powerful and glorious, and fhe main- 
tained her form of government longer 
than any of the molt famous republics 
of antiquity. While free, the people 
were happy, virtuous, and opulent ; 
Monruiy Mac. No, 123. 
645 
but, no fooner did the chief magif- 
trates confpire againft liberty, thana 
ftate inquifition was introduced, a fyf- 
tem of efpionage was eftablifhed, fecret 
imprifonment was recurred to, and at 
length, the citizens having no intereft in 
the prefervation of the ftate, it was. 
overwhelmed without a fingle itruggle. 
THEOLOGY. 
The late fettlement, refpeCting reli- 
gion, in France, has not only induced 
the bookfeilers to reprint many old 
theological traéts; but alfo to procure 
the tranflation or fome from the Ene 
glith, The following is a lift of the 
laft publications on this fubject : 
“ Accord duLivre de la Genéfe avee 
la Géologie et les Monumens Humains, 
iur iesFaits et lesEpoques de la Création 
et du Déiuge Univerfal, et fur le fait 
d’une Révoiution qui, parl’ordre divin, 
avoit fiappé 4 la-tois de tous les Globes 
de notre Monde Planétaire; y avoit 
Eteint l1 Lumiére et la Nature vivante, 
et ne finit qu’a | Epoque ot Dieu créa de 
nouveaux tres fur la terre, quarante 
fiécles avant |’ére Chrétienne; par M. 
GERVAIS DE LA PRISE, l’ainé, Mem- 
bre de Académie des Sciences, Let- 
tres et Arts, de Caen. Paris, 1 vol. 
$vo.”” 
“ Avantages (les) de l’Amitié Caré- 
tienne; ou, Lettres a Guftave. Paris, 
** De Evidence de la Religion Chré- 
tienne, ouvrage de M. JENNINGS, an- 
cien Membre de la Chambre des Com- 
munes, fuivi d’un plan de Fénélon fur 
le méme Sujet, et des Penfées fur la 
Providence quatriéme Edition, aug- 
mentée d’un Difcours de M. Biair, 
{ur les Avantages de la Religion, et de 
Maximes Chrétiennes. Paris, 1 vol. in- 
pet 
‘© Hiftoire de VEtabliffement du 
Chrifianiime dans les Indes Orien- 
ta.es; par les Evéques Frangais. Paris, 
2 vol. in-12. 
4« Penfées du Pére Bourdaloue, de Ja 
Compagnie de Jetus. Paris, 3 vol. in- 
rz." 
“© La Religion Chrétienne connue 
dans fes principales Preuves, et prati- 
quée d’aprés les PP. de VEglife, Paris, 
1 vol. in-32. 
«« Secours {les) Spirituels que l’on 
doit au Prochain dans les Maladies qui 
peuvent aller ala Mort, a l’Ufage de 
toutes fortes de Perfonnes; parle R. 
P. Ch. de Latteignant de la Compagnie 
de Jifus, nouvelle Edition, a laquelie 
on a joint les Chapitres du Livre inti- 
tulé, Efprit de S. Frangois de Saies fur 
le méme Sujet. Paris. 1 vol. ga-52.” 
40 The 
