622 
maxims, as he deemed ufeful for all na- 
tions. 
Le Defenfeur de la Philofophie, &c.— 
The Defender of Philofophy, a Satire, 
In 8vo. 
Tne author of this Satire poffeffes fome 
talents, but he gives way, at times, to 
the {pirit of party. The Republicans, 
Mercier and Retif, experience a large 
portion of his praife, while Laharpe and 
Delile, two Royalifts, are dépreciated far 
below their juft merits. But he not only 
attacks the living,/but alfo fome of the 
molt iluitrious of the dead, whom he af- 
furedly ought to have refpected : 
«* Jeune homme, refpeCtez leur gloire fécu- 
Jaire.*” 
Giibert, a French Poet of no little cele- 
brity, is treated as follows: 
Retrofpe# of Spanifh Literature. * 
€© ai démafqué ce Gilbert, votre Maitre, 
Ce Gilbert, qui vécut, myftique fanfaron, 
Du pain de PArcheveque et du vin de Frérong 
Ce Gilbert, quoiqu’Athee, Apotre de VEglife, 
Ce Gilbert, que Pon pr6ne autant qu’on le 
méorife.”” 
The following line exprefles a good 
idea, in a neat and pleafant manner: 
‘* A Vage qui précéde on immole notre age.” 
We fhall conclude with the following quo- 
tation : - 
‘<Quand Demouftier naquit, les Mufes et 
PAmour 
Sur fa bouche enfantine exprimerent des rofes: 
Son ftyle n’eft que miel, n’elt que fleurs demi 
cloles, 
Comme fon doux encens chatouille Vodorat ! 
Il égale Voltaire, il furpafle Dorat ****” _. 
. 
IN the preceding year we fubmitted- to 
our readers a. Retrofpeét of Spanith Li- 
terature, diftinguifhed under the different 
departments of Arts and Sciences. At 
the commencement of the prefent we weré 
reluctantly confirained to difappoint the 
public in the continuation of that fubject ; 
but it is with pleafure we announce on 
this occafion that the obftruétions have 
been overcome, and that we have been 
enabled not only to fupply the acknow- 
ledged deficiency, but to defcend in our 
hiftory of the literature of that country 
to the lateft accounts that in the regular 
courfe of conveyance were capable oi be- 
ing received. 
It has been admitted by the moft pro- 
found cbfervers of intelle&t that the pe- 
riod of tranquillity is the leaft favourable 
to its energies, and that its moit fublime 
efforts have rifen to day and glory, in 
times of public dangers While we la- 
ment the devaftation of the human fpe- 
cies in the violence of war, we may be 
allowed to confole ourfelves, if the pure 
lambent flame of {cience rife from. the 
afhes of martial ruin; we may be per- 
mitted to induige a momentary {mile if 
the general collifion of deftruétive adtivity 
enkindle a few brilliant {parks to pervade 
the gloom. 
We dare not fay that the national tor- 
pidity in this fourhern kingdom has been 
wholly removei—that the fountains of - 
knowledge haye poured forth an impetu- 
‘ 
-RETROSPECT OF SPANISH LITERATURE, during the Year 1800, and 
continued i9 MAY, 1801. 
————— 
ous torrent—the progrefs of mind, 
however, if not rapid, is apparent, and 
is ftrikingly indicative of the ameliorated 
condition of fociety in that kingdom. 
In the beginning of the fixteenth cen- 
tury, on the acceflion of the Auftrian fa- 
mily to the throne of Spain, that nation 
occupied a diftinguifhed rank in arms and 
literature; whatever at this time may be 
her deferts in military fame, the candour 
of the fcientific mind will obferve with 
fatisfaction that in the peaceful and orna- 
mental arts of life—in the developement 
of talent, and the ebullition of genius—her 
-recent hiftory has merited the refpeét of 
the neighbouring ftates. 
In the Britith Mufeum we have feen a 
curious catalogue of Arabian produétions 
which have furvived the tempeft of hu- 
man paffions: in the Monkifh inftitutions' 
of Spain many of thefe have, been pre- 
ferved by the lovers of fcience, who re- 
{cued them from oblivion during a period 
of general calamity: the {pirit of fuper- 
ftition has concealed them from public no- 
tice, and we are concerned to fay that they 
are yet involved in the fame ebfcurity: 
we fhall joyfully hail the day when they 
fhall be no longer entombed—when the 
powerful mandate of truth fhall burft the 
cearments artifice has impofed, and the 
treafures of Eaftern learning thal! be pour- 
ed forth to juttify the hopes, and gratify 
the wifhes, of the friends of fcience. 
On account of the narrow limits by 
. pte which 
