4 
re Retrofpedt of French Literature —Mifeellanies: 643 
unlimited liberty, fuch as that decreed by 
the Conttituent Affembly. The author, 
by way of conciliating all parties and all 
‘interefts, purpofes, therefore, to fubject 
the Negroes to a temporary fervitude of no 
more than thirty years, at the end of 
which they are to be free! and he thinks 
that the flaves juft imported from Guinea 
would have no manner of objection to fuch 
a beneficent arrangement. 
. It appears that the inhabitants of Gua- 
daloupe are fo much afraid of the cuftom 
of enfranchifing negroes, that a tax has 
been impofed of no lefs thaw twelve hun- 
dred livres for every perfon who receives 
his or her freedom. - 
“¢ Bibliothéque Phyfico-Economique, 
publice par Cahiers le premier de chaque 
mois, 4 commencer du 1 Brumaire, An. 
XI. (22 Oétobre, 1802) : par une Societé 
de Savans, d’Artiftes, et d’Agronomes ; 
redigée par C. S. Sonninz, Membre de la 
Societ€é d’Agriculture de Paris,’? &¢.— 
The Phyfico- Economical Library, &e. 
This is the continuation of a periodical 
work of fome celebrity, which was fuf- 
pended by the Revolution. The name of 
Sonnini is undoubtedly calculated to cir- 
culate it, although it may be difficult, 
perhaps, to fell fifteen thoufand copies of 
the prefent, as was actually done of the 
former, publication, 
** CBuvres Diverfes de Duclos, de 
PAcadémie Frangaife ; nouvelle Edition, 
augmentée de pluficurs Mémoires curieux ; 
entr’ autres fur-les Druides, fur PArt 
théatral chez les Remains, fur les €preuves 
appelées Jugemens de Dieu, fur l’Origine 
et Jes. Revolutions des Langues Celtique 
et Francaife, etc. Paris, N. L. M. Desés- 
SARTS, Editeuret Libraire, 5 vol. in-8°.”’ 
—Mitcellaneous Works of Duclos, of the 
French Academy, &c. 
Notwithftanding the additions mention- 
ed in the title-page, thefe five volumes do 
not contain a complete edition of the works 
of Duclos ; for befides the omiffion of his 
Hiftory of Louis XI: we do not find his 
» Remarks on the Grammar of Port-Royal,” 
orhis Secret Memoirs of Louis XIV. and 
and Louis XV. publifhed in 1790 by M. 
Sautereau de Merfy. 
During the life-time of this author, 
his merits and talents were difputed ; but 
pofterity, which does not participate in 
the petty paffions of the moment, has done 
him more jultice ; and it is.now allowed, 
that, although he wrote with a concilenefs 
that fometimes appeared dry, his ftyle, 
nevertheleis, was not deftitute of grace, 
or of correétnefs, the latter of which He 
appears.to have carried even to excef$. 
’ MontuL_y Maa, No. 96, 
reckoning by nights. 
The moft celebrated: work, perhaps, 
publithed by this voluminous writer, is 
entitled, ** Confiderations fur les Moeurs,”” 
affuredly the beft produ€tion of its kind, 
fince the Charaéters of La Bruyére.— 
When it firft appeared, Louis XV. gave 
an excellent idea of it, by obfirving that: 
it was ‘¢/e livre d’une honnéte homme.” 
In his <*¢ Mémoire fur les Druides,”” he 
tells us that the chiefs refided in the Au- 
tunois during fix of the f{ummer months, 
at a place which is to this day called Mont 
des Druides,and {pent the winter at Char- 
tres, which might have been termed their 
fovereign court ; for it was there they held 
general affemblies, and made public offers 
ings, 
“© The grand facrifice of the mifletoe 
(fays he) was celebrated near Chartres 
with great ceremony, on the 6th day of the _ 
moon which was the commencement of 
the year, according ‘to their manner of 
‘The greater part 
of the nation repaired to the fpot at the 
time indicated, and the mifletoe was 
fearched for on an oak of about thirty years 
of age. When found, an altar was ereét- 
ed, and a proceffion immediately enfued. 
The Eubages marched firft, conduGing - 
two white bulls, which were to ferve as 
victims ; the Bards, who fucceeded, fang 
hymns in praife of the Divinity, and in 
honour of the facrifice: the ftudents, or 
difciples, followed ; and after thefe ap- 
peared a herald at arms, clothed in white, 
his bead crowned with a kind of hat, and 
his hand holding a branch of vervain (ar 
holy-herb) encircled by two ferpents, ia 
the fame manner as Mercury is ufually 
reprefented, wat 
‘‘ The three moft ancient Druids were 
employed as follows; one carried the - 
bread that was to be offered 3 another 
held a veffel full of water ; the third an 
ivory hand attached to the end of a rod, 
the emblem of juftice 3" the high. priest 
followed the laft of thefe, on foot, clothed 
in a white robe, and acloak, or upper- 
garment. He was furrounded by the Va- 
cies, another branch of Druidical priefts, 
clothed nearly like himfelf, and fucceeded 
by the nobility. 
The proceffion having arrived at the 
foot of the-facred oak, the pontiff, after 
repeating certain prayers, burnt a little 
bread, poured fome drops of wine- upon 
the altar, offered the bread and. wine in 
facrifice, and then diftributed them among 
the workmen. . 
«¢ After this he climbed up the tree, 
cut the mifletoe with a golden pruning- 
knife ; and throwing it down, it was re- 
4. : ceived 
{ ~~. 
