610 
guages, and read throughout all Europe: 
but France was soon compelled to relin- 
quish the hope of reaping the produce of 
the soil which she had so long and so 
successfully cultivated. History, which 
is no longer herself when she ceases to 
he free, was, during many years, reduced 
to silence; and how could she have raised 
her voice, when liberty was repressed. in 
the name of liberty? . She withdrew into 
neighbouring countries: she inspired 
Muller; sie inspired Mitford; and lent 
her pen to writers previously accustomed 
to handle it, and who have employed it 
to advantage. 
However,some men of letters in France 
continued in solitude and silence their 
studies and their labours; and as soon 
as circumstances permitted, there ap- 
peered in the collections of the Institute, 
a considerable number of notices of ma- 
nuscripts and memoirs relative to our 
history of the middle age, and to diplo- 
macy. 
Collection of the Historians of France, 
has been published by the order, and 
under the auspices, of government; the 
fifteenth is in the press, as well as the 
fifteenth volume of the Collection of the 
Ordinances of the Kings of the third 
French Dynasty. Other works of the 
same kind have been suspended, and yet 
wait, it is true, for continuators; and we 
must confess to your Majesty, though 
with great regret, that we have no hopes 
that all will find them, unless one of 
your powerful looks should revive this 
species of study, by which France had 
rendered herself illustrious during up- 
wards of two centuries, and which she 
now seems to have entirely abandoned, 
The history. of Russia, writtey by a 
Frenchman, has been augmented and 
Monthly Retrospect of the Fine. Arts. 
The fourteenth volume of the 
[Fan.-b, 
improved in a new edition. The history 
ef the Roman republic has been treated 
in a new point of view; thatof the Lower 
Empire has been resumed, and is now 
completing. The history of the unset- 
tled governments of France, and of its 
long misfortunes, has been written-in a 
style, and with colours, suiiable to the 
subject. The historical and political 
view of Europe, during ,ten years, has. 
been delineated with as much truth as 
elegance and ability. The view of the 
revolutions of this same part of the world, 
lately published, is a work which it will 
be useful to read before the history, and 
to keep sight of, in reading it. The aus 
thor has judiciously avoided the prolixity 
which some of our historians may be 
justly reproached with: they wish to 
turn all their researches to some account 5 
whatever has cost them trouble acquires. 
importance in their eyes. Our contem= 
poraries must be in a state of mind more 
fit than their predecessors to write his- 
tory. . They have witnessed so many great 
subversions, such great calamities, such 
great actions, so great a man, that what- 
ever is not truly great, will to them ap- 
pear little. From all the grand objects 
which they have seen, they have un- 
doubtedly learned to see grandly; and 
one who sees thus, will always express 
himself with force, dignity, and concise- 
ness. Wein 
His Majesty replied nearly in the fol- 
Jowing words: 
Gentlemen, presidents, secretary, and 
deputies, of the third class of the Insti- 
tute: [ take a great interest in the pros- 
perity of the sciences, and more parti- 
cularly. in the success of your labours, 
You may always rely on my protection, 
MONTHLY RETROSPECT or tue FINE ARTS. 
The Use of all New Prints, and Communication of Articles of Intelligence, §¢. are re 
guested under cover to the Care of ihe Publisher. 
a 
4 Man amusing Two'Children, by playing on 
the Few’s Harp. D: Wilkie, A.R.A: pinxt. 
Burnett, sculpt. Published by the Engraver, 
Boydell and Co. &e. 
HIS is the first engraving (with the 
exception of a small book-print or 
two) that has heen made from the de-: 
signs of Mr. Wilkie, who has been justly 
called the British Teniers. The subject 
yepresents an aged man sitting in the 
centre, playing on a Jew’s-harp, and 
stooping with much satisfaction, to the 
., level of the two children, a boy and a 
se 
girl. The accessories, are a peacock’s: 
feather in’ the head of the girl, cottage: 
furniture, utensils, *a square knob, pane 
of glass, &c. finished in a precise- and! 
elaborate manner; but whieh, in the 
print, must in a degree fail for want of 
the aid of colour, that the picture pos= 
sesses.*. The- cngraving (in the line: 
manner) is clear, brilhant, and appro= 
, 
priate to the style of the original. Tt 
does infinite honour to the talents of Mr.. 
Burnett, who (if report speaks true) was: 
a painter, and this print the first entire _ 
effort 
