Retrofpeét of French Literature—Maifcellaneous. 625 
800,000 franks prefented by the ftate to 
the Opera-houfe, fhould be employed to 
better advantage, in eftablifhing /pedc?a- 
eles gratis, in all the cities and towns of 
the republic. He advifes the publication 
of a © Journal of Morals ;” thinks that 
bigamy is neceflary, and that out of a 
-thoufand men, there are not four of them 
who have not two wives a piece. He alfo 
deems it proper to permit proftitutes for 
the ufe of foreigners, but propofes that 
they fhall be fecluded in feparate quar- 
‘ters of the metropolis, under the direc- 
tion of matrons, taxed lke hackney- 
coaches. In addition to this, he propofes 
to eftablifh an infurance-office againft 
theft and robbery, and to abolith gaming- 
tables! : 
Coup-d’ cil politique fur le Continent, &c. 
—A Political Survey of the Continent. 
SaLapin, of Geneva, the author of this 
pamphlet, has diftributed his materials 
into four chapters, which treat in fuc- 
ceflion. . 
1. Of the internal politics of Denmark 
and Pruffia. 
2. Of Sir Francis D'Invernois and his 
errors. 
3. Of the various public aéts emanated 
from the Cabinet of Pruffia, concerning 
the war with France: 
And 4. A comparifon between the 
Roffian troops in the prefent, and the 
Heflians during the American, war. 
The Author frankly confeffes, that he 
has altered his opinion relative to the 
French Revolution, for which he is now 
an advocate. 
Code Conftitutionnel de la Republique 
Francaife, &c.—Conftitutional Code of 
the French Republic, an ufeful Manual 
for French Citizens, and indifpenfably 
neceflary for foreigners travelling through, 
of fojourning in France. 
This publication contains an account 
of the money, weights, and meafures, of 
the Republic; the Conftitution of the 
year viil.; the divifion of France into Pre- 
fectures, Sub. prefectures, &c. é&c. 
L’ Année Théatrale, &c.—The Thea- 
trical Calendar, 18mo. - 
The theatres and places of public en- 
tertainment are fo numerous in France, 
and a Parifian derives fo much amute- 
ment from frequenting them, that a par- 
ticular defcription becomes abfolutely ne- 
ceflary. It is impofiible to enter into the 
various details contained in a pamphlet of 
this defcription, but it would be unpar- 
donable to omit, that the Authors have 
given a decided preference to the National 
\ 
Theatre over that foreign excrefcence, 
which has obtruded and fixed itfelf in 
France as well as in England, and in 
both affeéts a pre-eminence. 
<¢ We fhali mention the Opera firt,’* 
fay they, ‘* when it becomes the cuftom 
to mention Quinault and Gentil Bernard 
before Cornedle and Racine; Guillard 
before Ducis; Morel before Collin d’Har- 
Jeville; Lays before Preville; and Vettris 
before Molé.” ‘The following is an 
exact defcription of Talma :—— 
‘¢ He ts not tall, but he is well made, 
and his head is peculiarly interefting. 
He poffefles a certain bold and difting 
character: his look is expreffive; his 
phyfiognomy is pliant; his features are 
fombre and refieéting. Does he menace, 
his eye is terrible—Does he entertain 
hopes of vengeance, his malignant grin is 
truly frightful. Struck with the love of 
the arts, and perpetually ftudying his 
Jeflons in the fchool of antiquity, and his 
models in the mafter-pieces of ftatuaries, 
he has produced the fame revolution in 
the theatre which Vien began in our {chool 
of painting, and which David and his 
{cholars have terminated fo glorioufly. 
It is neceflary, however, in order to 
complete the portrait of this actor, to 
add, that whether from want of tafte, or 
phyfical means, in regard to the execution, 
he prefers the modern pieces to our chefs- 
ad ceuvres, and the tragedies of Chenier te 
thofe of Racine.” 
Vocabulaire desTermes de Marine, &c.— 
‘A. Vocabulary of the Terms made ufe of 
in the Navy, in Englifh and French, ;to 
which is added, a Lift of the Terms ufed 
in the Merchant’s-fervice, &c. by the Ci- 
tizen LescaLisR, 1 vol. 8vo. 
Lefcalier informs us, that he has been 
employed during a term of twenty-five 
years, im rendering this work perfec. 
Introduction a la Philofephie de Platon, 
&c.—An Introduétion to the Philofophy 
of Plato, tranflated'from the Greek T'ext 
of Alcenius, by j. J}. Combes Dounous, 
$vo. 
In addition to that of the original text, 
Dounous has given a tranflation of a com- 
mentary of one of Plato’s diiciples, on the 
following queftion:—-“« What is God, ac- 
cording to Plato?” - 
Caricatures Politigues.—~Political Cari- 
catures, by BeauForrT. © 
This is a little volume, containing de- 
{criptions as weil as caricatures of the 
five following political characters:—y. 
“ L’Independani.”” 
2. DL’ Excluiyf.?? 
Phe Be 
