Retrospect of Domestic Literature— Voyages and Travels, 
and the yreatest part of their satellites: 
We know not, with sufficient precision, 
the density of all these bodies, The 
theory of their motions is a series of 
approximations, whose convergence de- 
pends, atthe same time, on the perfec- 
tion of our instruments, and the progress 
of analysis, and which must, by these 
means, daily acquire new degrees of 
correctness. By accurate and repeated 
measurement, the inequalities in the 
figure of the earth, and the variation of 
weight on its surface, will be determined. 
The return of comets already observed, 
new comets which will- appear, the ap- 
pearance of those, which, moving ip 
hyperbolic orbits, cam wander froih sys+ 
tem to: system, the disturbance all those 
stars experience, and which, at the ap- 
proach of a large planet, may entirely 
change their orbits, as is conjectured, 
happened by the action of Jupiter on 
the comet of 1770; the accidents, that 
the proximity, and even the shock of 
these bodies, may occasion in the planets, 
and in the satellites; in a word, the 
changes which the motions of the solar 
system experience, with respect to the 
stars; such are the principal objects 
which the system presents to astrono- 
mical researches, and future ygeome- 
tricians. 
“ Contemplated as one grand whole, 
astronomy is the most beautiful monu- 
ment of the human mind; the noblest 
record of its intelligence. Seduced by 
the illusions of the senses, and of self- 
love, man considered himself, for a long 
time, as the centre of the motion of the 
celestial bodies, and his pride was justly 
punished by the vain terrors they inspired. 
The labour of many ages has at length 
withdrawn the veil which covered the 
system. Man appears, upon ‘a small 
planet, almost imperceptible in the.vast 
extent of the solar system, itself only 
an insensible point in the immensity of 
space. The sublime results to which 
this discovery has led, may console him 
for the limited place assigned him in the 
universe, Let us carefully preserve, and 
€ven augment, the number of these sub- 
jime discoveries, which form the delight 
-of thinking beings. 
*“* They have rendered important services 
to navigation and astronomy; but their 
great benefit has. heen the having dis- 
sipated the alarms occasioned by extra- 
ordinary celestial phenomena, and de- 
stroyed the errors springing from the ig- 
norance of our true relation with natures 
errors so much the more fatal, as social 
he, 4 ‘ ; ‘ 
673 
order can only rest on the basis of these 
relations. Truth, Justice—these are 
its immutable laws. Far from us be the 
dangerous maxim, that it is sometimes 
useful to misiead, to deceive, and en- 
slave mankind, to insure their happiness. 
Cruel experience has at all times proved, 
that with impunity these sacred laws can 
never be infringed.” 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
The ninth volume of ‘ Modern and 
Contemporary Voyages ana Travels,” has 
recently appeared, and well sustains the 
reputation acquired by the preceding 
voluines of that collection, The present 
volume contains, Travels in Spain: 
containing anew, accurate, and comprehen=. 
sive View of the State of that Country, down. 
to the year 1806, by J. F. Bourcorne, 
formerly French Ambassador at the Court 
“of Madrid, Commander of the Legion of 
Honour, Member of the National Institute, 
&c. Sc. The translator, who appears 
to have executed his part with diligence 
and taste, tells us in his advertisement, 
that “the work of M. Bourcoine was 
first known to the public about twenty 
years ago, at which period it was con- 
sidered the most accurate account that 
had appeared of that interesting country. 
In France, it met with considerable suc-. 
cess; and in the course of time passed 
through three’ editions, each ‘of which 
received corrections, and emendations, 
from the author. The political events, 
however, which have lately occurred, 
suggested. the propriety of a still more 
enlarged re-publication; and as the 
author had the advantage of continuing 
his observations, by a residence for 
several years, at various times, in the 
country which he describes, the present 
edition will be found to contain a correct 
and authentic View of Modern Spain, 
under which-title, the original is now 
published. 
“* M. Bourgoing lays much claim to 
Justice and impartiality, in his descrip- 
tions, in consequence of his long mtere 
course with every class of inhabitants - 
and having studied their language and 
manners, with great attention. We 
find, indeed, that even before the ap- 
pearance of hus first work, relative to 
this country, in the year 1789, he had 
resided in it upwards of eight years, 
since which, he has been twice dispatched 
on important missions. He has, theres 
fore, had ample opportunity to rectity 
his- former errors; and to improve the 
present edition, by the insertion of nu- 
inmerous facts, not contained in_ those 
; which 
