Retrofpect of French Literature— Hiftory. 
tong obliged to endure; becaufe, from 
its fize, the number of plates,and, above 
all, the vait quantity of numerical types 
neceffary for the tables of logarithms 
and other calculations, they ceuld not 
compats a new edition of it.. At length 
muftering all their ftrength, they ac- 
tually did accomplith it!!! 
I willnot take upon me to ftate, that 
this di(graceful ftate of literature in 
merica arifes trom any aétual deficien-* 
cy of genius. There are many,very ma- 
ny, characters in America, who unite in 
their own perfons as much tafte and in- 
telligence as is perhaps to be found in 
any country inthe world. Itisrather to 
beattributedto thenational habits,which 
are fordid, thrifty, and commercial, to a 
degree which has never been exceeded 
even by our neighbours,the Dutch. To 
acquire wealth,and not to acquire know- 
ledge, is the objeét of an American; 
literature is confequently ftarved and 
degraded; editions of books’ are necef{- 
farily {mall; bookfellers are deterred 
from embarking in literary fpecula- 
tions; and no inducement is held out 
to.any clais of perfons to devote them- 
felves to letters. Where faint applaufe 
and patronage is the refult of mental 
exertions, it 1s not to be fuppofed, that 
_ they will either be great or very effec- 
tual. 
Although it mutt be confeffed, that 
America has not yet fhone in the de- 
partment of belles-lettres, yet a very 
Jaudable defire has lately evinced it-— 
felf to inveftigate with caution, mi- 
nutenefs, and impartiality, the hiftory 
of the feveral States. Dr. BeLKnap 
has diftinguithed himfelf in this ufeful 
Aefign; and if he andthe other gen- 
tlemen, who have undertaken particu- 
627 
lar hiftories, are nottthwarted by the 
parfimonious {pirit off their country- 
men, there will be reaton to congra- 
tulate the Americans od the value and 
variety of thefe’ provincia hiftories. 
In medicine, and in {everal depart 
ments of fcience, the Americans have 
honourably diftinguified themfelves. 
The Medical Repofitory,. publithed at 
New York, under the direction of Dr. 
Mitcuet and MILLE, proves, in eve- 
ry page, that a tafte forlaccurate fcien 
tific refearch is wide-{fpread, and deep- 
rooted; and the Tranfa&tions .cf the 
American Philofephical Society are ger 
nerally diftingui(hed by a great‘number 
of valuable papers. The late Dr. Smith, 
of NewYork ,wasan example of promif- 
ing genius which will feldoni be ex- 
ceeded. - He was one of the editors of 
the Medical Repofitory, and 1 confider | 
it proper toexempt that work from the 
general charge of corrupted and vicious 
jancuage, which may be juftly main- 
tained againit many American writers, 
and which fo highly difgraces the Na- 
tional tafte in the writers of their newi- 
papers. } eg 
I hope the juft feverity of part of 
thefe obfervations will be a means of 
caufing fome of the more enlightened 
inhabitants of the different States to 
confider of the means by which a fpirit 
of inquiry and of literary patronage 
may be more generally excited; and, 
when this is‘eftected, 1 have no doubt, 
in proportion as talents find encourage- 
ment, they will expand and thew them: 
felves, and that the wretched ftate of 
American literature will be proved, te 
arife from no dédficiency of native ge- 
Nius. Xa 
a 
HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECT OF FRENCH LITERATURE. 
——S 
HISTORY. 
as ELATION détaillée du Paflage 
de la Limat, effectué le 3 Vendeé- 
miaire An 8, fuivie de celle du Paflage 
du Rhin, du rz Floréal fuivant, et de 
quelques autres Paflages de Fleuves. 
Cet Ouvrage contient une Notice iitto- 
riquede Toutes ies OpérationsMilitaires 
des Armées du Danube et du Rhin, 
fous les Ordres des Généraux Maflena 
et Moreau, depuis le 15 Melhidor An 7 
(3,Juillets799)jufqu’ay 26 Meffidor An 
% (15 Juillet 1800) avec, deux’ Cartes 
Topographiques, gravées par Tardieu: 
« MowTxHuy Maa. No. 96. 
pav le C. Devon l’ainé,, Chef de Brie 
gade d'Artillerie.” -A detailedAccount 
of the Patlage of the Limat, the Rhine, 
&C. 
The paffage of a broad and rapid 
river has always been confidered, by 
military men, as one of the moit diff- 
cult operations in the artof war; and 
the French mutt be allowed, in the 
courfe of the late coateft, to have 
crofled both the Rhine and the Limat, 
ina very mafterly and {cientific man- 
ner. Dedon, who pofleties the rank of 
Major-General in the Artillery, was ens 
41 ; ablew, 
