| Retrofped? of French Literature. —Mifcellanies. 
ive to Poland and the German indem- 
nities. 
And the sth the ftates of the empire ; 
to which are added, fome general articles 
relative to Germany. 
Among the princip:] memoirs contain- 
ed in thefe volumes is one by Mentelle, 
on the confidence that ought to be put in 
ancient geographers : on this occafion, in 
conformity to the nature of the work, 
which is entirely analytical, he gives an 
excellent analyfis of the celebrated pros 
duction of Goffelin on this fubject. This 
is followed by two more of the fame fpe- 
cies of compofition ; the one a theory of 
the earth by Buffon, and the other by 
Deluc. They are, indeed, diametrically 
oppofite to each other in refpeét to the re- 
fult ; but, in the language of the editor, 
*< this very contrait becomes more piquant, 
in confequence of the great renown pof- 
feffed by both thefe authors: the former 
on the fcore of genius and imagination ; 
the latter on that of Knowledge and argu- 
ment, 7 
Thefe are followed by a new chronolo- 
gical fummary, relative to the progtefs of 
geography among European nations, a 
work in itfelf fo interefting, that it might 
be detached from the general plan, on 
purpole to form a publica ion by itfelf. 
As the refemblance between the days of 
the week, in Latin and Gothic, is confi- 
dered as ftriking, we fhall here tran{cribe 
them, in their refpective languages, more 
efpecially as this firiking conformity, 
in nearly all languages, has often been ad- 
duced as a proof of one common fource. 
Latin. 
Dies folis (jour du foleil.) 
Lune (jour de la lune.) 
Martis (jour de Mars.) 
Mercurii (jour de Mercure.) 
Jovis (jour de Jupiter.) 
Veneris (jour de Vénus.) 
Saturni (jour de Saturne.) 
Gathick. 
Sunnardag (jour du foleil.) 
Malurdag (jour de Ja lune.) 
Tyrs-dag (jour du Dieu de la Force.) 
Odins-dag (jour du Dieu de la Victoire 
et de la Saceffe.) 
Thers-dag(jour du Dieu du Tonnerre.) 
Fraya-dag (jourde laDéefe de I’ Amour. ) 
Langus dag (jour de la purification. ) 
It would be unpardonable to omit, that 
the fecond volume abounds with a variety 
of inttruétive and interelling particulars, 
relative to Europe, particularly a compa- 
rative eftimate of its various kingdoms 
@nd itates : thefe are preceded by a general 
4% / 
Beene 
703. 
introduétion replete with talents and en- 
thufiafms * In iffuing from the hands of 
nature, (fays the author of this portion of 
the work) our part of the globe poffeffed 
no claim to that pre-eminence which dif- 
tinguifhes it atthisday. The Orel Lana, 
and the Nile, thefe two kings of rivers, 
would have found themfelves ftraitened 
throughout the extent of the quarter 
which we inhabit. Thofe fruits which et 
prefent conftitute the pride of our gardens, 
are prefents from more fortunate climates ¢ 
we are rich alone by borrowing. This 
narrow peniniula, which makes a figure on 
the globe, merely as an appendix to Aisa, 
is become the metropolis of the human 
race, and the legiflatrix of the univerfe. 
Europe is every where ;—a whole conti- 
nent is peopled with our colonies, and one 
half of our armies would be fully fuffi- 
cient to conquer the feeble Afia, and the 
ferocious Africa.” 
This is afluredly a work of confiderable. 
merit, but it is ridiculous to confider it 
in the light of a fcheol-book, being far 
too voluminous for the perufal of youth. 
«© Principies de Droit Naturel Apoli- 
qués a l’Ordre Sccial, a |’Ulagedes Jeunes 
Gens deftinés aux Fonctions Publiques,"* 
&c.—The Principles of Natural Law, ap- 
plied to the Social Order, for the Ufe of 
fuch Young Men as may be deftined for 
Public Functions, By J.P. Marrions, 
formerly a Lawyer of Nancy. 2 vels. 
$vo. 
By natural law, the author underftands 
the rules obferved by men, in their inter- 
courfe with each other, independently of 
thofe pofitive laws inftituted by the focial 
compaét in every nation. The work cf 
M. Maffioli confitts of four books, which 
are divided into fo many conferences. He 
Jays it down as a principle, that natural 
Jaw is merely the refult of the knowledge 
of man; and in this review he by turns 
developes his faculties, his fenfibility, his 
smprefivility, Cimpreffibilité) his reafon, 
his imagination, his liberty, his morality, 
his con{cience, After this, he eftas 
lifhes the neceffity of a revealed religion, 
which he maintains to be a neceflary con. 
fequeoce from human nature. ‘ Out of 
the revealed law,” {ays he (liv. it. confer, 
6. p. 143.) there is no public law, no law 
of nations, no liberty, no equality, no 
fovereignty.”” According to him, ** ante- 
rior to revelation, there did not exift any 
other law than tint of the trongeft, while 
Chriltianity by its benign influence, (as we 
are toli)} has entivciy anninilated flavery. 
Sovereign y(it .s ad ied) does not appertain 
to the people 3 fae government of one's 
; that 
ra 
eo 
