Retrofpect of French Literature. Hiftory, 
commerce, by extragsting a molt excel. 
lent cyder from the apples with which 
this country abounds, and whence the 
Vendean at prefent receives no profit 
whatfoever ; while the Fleming would 
teach him how to cultivate hops, and to 
fupply the place of wine, which he can- 
not raife, by means of beer.” 
‘¢ Hiftoire des Suifles, ou Helvetiens, 
depuis les Tems le plus reculés jufq’a nos 
Jours,” &c,—Hiftory of the Swifs, or 
Helvetians, from the earlieft Times to 
the prefent Day ; by P. H. Ma.tert, 
formerly Profeflor in the Academies of 
Upfal and Caffel, 4 vols. 8vo. ; witha 
large Map of Switzerland. 
Before Gibbon turned his attention 
towards his grand work upon the De- 
cline of the Roman Empire, his mind 
was occupied, in fucceflion, relative to 
different hiftorical fubjects, among 
which was included the infranchifement 
of Switzerland from the yoke of Auf- 
tria. M, Mallet, already known by his 
Hiftory of Denmark, has undertaken 
this tafk, and accomplifhed his labours 
within the compafs of four volumes, 
which may be confidered as a mere.ab- 
breviation when compared with the in- 
duftrious and indefatigable Muller, 
who has already publifhed nine, with- 
out advancing any further than the ear. 
ly periods of the Helvetic Confedera- 
tion. 
Throughout the whole of this work 
the author has been at great pains to 
detail every particular that might Jead 
to a knowledge of the priftine manners 
of the Swifs, and he lets no occafion flip 
to depié their extreme refpec&t for, and 
gratitude towards, the Divinity, even 
although at times mingled with fuper- 
ftition. Thus, we are informed, that it 
was cuftomary for them to fall on their 
knees both before and fubfequent to an 
engagement, and that after the battle 
of Nzftels, which was gained by the in- 
habitants of the valley of Glaris, ** they 
thanked God, the holy Virgin, and 
their patron faint, Fridolin, who had fo 
powerfully affifted them upon this occa- 
fion to liberate themfelves from flavery 
and ruin,” 
Nor are the grand traits of hiftory 
forgotten in this defcription, for M. 
Mallet has been at great.pains to trace 
the firft beginnings of that effervefcence 
which, during the fourteenth century, 
infpired the commonalty throughout 
nearly the whole of Europe to thake off 
the yoke of the feigneurs or great land- 
holders. The origin of the HelveticCon- 
Montusy Maa. No. r10, 
643 
federation is alfo defcribed in a manner 
calculated to make an impreffion, al- 
though the narrator has thought fit to 
reject the ftory about William Tell and 
the apple, as well as many fimilar ones, 
which he confiders as fabulous. 
The next grand epoch inthe hiftory 
of Switzerland is the war with the Duke 
of Burgundy, Charles ie Témeraire, 
whofe {poils firft ingrafted on the minds 
of a people until then good and fimple, 
a love of riches which in the end pro~ 
duced that reputation for avarice, fince 
become proverbial. 
The third remarkable period is the 
Reformation, which is here’ treated in 
a manner worthy of fuch an interefting 
fubject. 
Mr. Mallet does not forget, amidft a 
crowd of national events, toenumerate 
a variety of anecdotes, and dwells with 
particular pleafure on the laft words ut- 
tered by Petermann de Gundoldingen, 
_after the battle of Sempach, as a proof of 
his patriotifm even in death. 
« Annales Hiftoriques, Civiles, Litté- 
raires, et Statifiiques, de Bourdeaux, de- 
puis la Foundation de cette Ville, &c.” 
—Hiftorical; Civil, Literary, and Sta- 
tiftical Annals of Bourdeaux, from the 
Foundation of that City tothe Year 
3802, 1 vol. gto. with a Plan. 
Thefe Annals are divided into five 
parts. The firft contains an Abridge- 
ment of the Principai Events from the 
earlieft Times, until the Year 1801 5’ 
the chief facts are here analyzed, and 
claffed with order and precifion. 
Part Ii. is a Continuation of the 
Chronicle, from the Year. 1700, until 
the Tenth Year of the Republic; to 
which is added, a Lift of the Writers, 
Artifts, .and chief Merchants of the. 
City of Bourdeaux. 
Part III. Includes an Account, un- 
der the head of ‘* Notices,” of the 
Eftablifhments, Civil, Religious, and 
Literary, both Ancient and Modern. 
The IVth divifion comprehends @ 
Chronological Lift of the Magiftrates 
during the Eighteenth Century :— 
And V. An Account of all the Mos 
numents of the Arts, to be found 
within this City ; to which is fubjoined 
the unpublithed Anas of Montaigne and 
Montefquicu, 
The, materials are fele&ted from the 
judicial regifter of the department, the 
archives in the town-houle, as well as 
the manui{cripts in the national library, 
together with the works, both publi¢ 
and private, which have appeared from 
40 time 
