Retrofpect of French Literature—Mifcellaneous. 
(Euvres de Piranefi, &c.——The works 
of PiRANESI, relativeto Greek and Ro- 
man Antiquities. — 
Four Numbers only of this fplendid 
work have as yet appeared. Thefe con- 
fit of ftatues, vafes, candelabras, &c. 
Pouvoir Legiflatif fous Charlemagne, 
&c.—The Legiflative Power under Char- 
lemagne, by M. BonnarrRe DE PRon- 
VILLE, 2 vols. $vo. 
A great number of publications have 
lately appeared, relative to the manner 
‘in which the legiflative power was exer- 
cifed under Charlemagne. Almoft every 
author has embraced and exhibited a dif- 
ferent fyftem, but they have nearly all 
united in one-common opinion, according 
to. which it would appear, that this Prince 
participated his power with an aflembly. 
They in general difagree, however, rela- 
“tive to the next queftion, which is, 
<‘ what did this aflembly confit of?” 
According to the prefeng author, it was 
compofed folely of the grandees of the 
empire, but this affertion reduces him to 
confiderable difficulties in explaining the 
words, ‘* ut populus interregetur,” the in- 
troduction to the edift of 864, &c. &c. 
This work difplays great erudition, 
and however the prefent ftate of France 
may be changed from what it was, yet 
it cannot be indifferent to the public to 
Jearn how the moft powerful nation in 
Europe was governed during fourteen 
centuries. 
Les Veillées du Taffe, manufcrit inédit, 
mis au jour par Campagnoni, &c.—The 
Nights of Taffo, an Inedited Manufcript, 
difcovered by CaMPaAGNONI, and tranf- 
Jated from the Italian, by J. F. MimauT, 
1 vol. 8vo. Paris. 
As there are fome doubts concerning 
the authenticity of this manufcript, we 
deem it neceflary to tranflate the preface. 
«© The celebrity attained by the author 
of ‘ Jerufalem Delivered,’ renders it pro- 
bable, that a manu{cript work of this 
» Poet will be received with all that eager- 
ne{s which the name of Taffo is likely to 
enfure. 
1794, amidft the ruins of an ancient edi- 
fice. Its authenticity being contefted, it 
has been compared by Dr. Agnelli, with 
the’ other manufcripts of Taffo, which 
are depofited in the library of Barotti. It 
was with great difficulty that it could be 
decyphered, in order to difcover the con- 
tents; the writing was originally bad, and 
the charaéters were nearly effaced by time, 
which, in fome places, had only fuffered 
a few faint traces to remain, fo x$ to be 
The manufcript now offered to 
the public was difeovered at Ferrara, in 
629 
legible. Without the affiftance of Dr. 
Agnelli, who is well verfed in ancient 
writings, and was prevailed upon to un- 
dertake the fuperintendance of this, in 
confequence of the friendfhip with which 
he honours me, I fhould never have been 
enabled to have the mamnutfcripts read, 
tranflated, and printed. 7 
«¢ There is fome reafon to fuppofe, that 
this work, which every where difplays a 
fiery and unprofperous paffion, was com- 
compofed at that period when the Duke of 
Ferrara had condemned Taffo to an inde- - 
finite imprifonment, after having been 
betrayed by a friend, to whom he had con- 
fided his paffion for the Princefs Eleonora, 
the fitter of that Potentate. 
«Jn other Italian libraries, but princi- 
pally in that of Modena, may be found a 
number of manufcripts of the fame Poet ; 
thefe have been already noticed by the Abbé 
Seraffi, in his Life of Taffo, but he has 
not made mention of this, the tfanflation 
of which is now prefented to the public.” 
“© CAMPAGNONI.”’ 
Voyage ea Suiffe et en Italie, &c.—A 
Journey through Switzerland and. Italy, _ 
with the Army of Referve, by V. Detr, 
author of the‘ Englifh Cofmopolite,”” who 
was employed along with the Staff of the 
above army. : 
It would feem, from the title, that this 
was a journal drawn up by fome military 
man, refpecting the celebrated campaign - 
in Italy, commenced and ended by the 
Battle of Marengo. It may beneceflary, 
however, to warn the reader, that it is a 
kind of Sentimental Fourney, fomewhat in 
the manner of our Sterne, of facetious: 
memory. 
Idées fur les Relations Politiques, &¢.— 
Ideas concerning the Political and Com- 
mercial Relations of the Ancient Inhabi- 
~ tants of Africa, tranflated from the Ger- 
man of A. H. HEEREN, 2 vols. 8vo. with 
a Map. ; 
‘The author has confined his inquiries 
to the epoch immediately preceding the 
reign of Alexander, becaufe the conguefts 
of that Monarch, and thofe of the Ro- 
mans, which occurred foon after, effeGed 
great revolutions in the commerce and 
government of the AfricanStates. Thefe 
two volumes, which are foon to be fol- 
lowed with feveral others, and will, when 
compieted, form a highly interefting 
work, treat— } 
1. Of the territories poffefled by the 
Carthaginians in Africa. 
2. Of the external poffeffions of that 
nation. 
3. Of their navigation and-commerce. 
4 4. OF 
