f> more copious works for Descents, 
weemees | Issues, and other minute par- 
tienlars, In point of style, we do not 
think it peculiarly elegant ; but it appears 
to have a strong claim to notice on the 
ground of accuracy. 
The original design of Dr. Srms’s “ In- 
quire eto the Const itution and Heonomy 
of Mun,” was to endeavour to give the 
reader who might be unacquainted with 
anatomy, a clear and useful conception 
ef his nature as an iutelligent,active, and 
esascientivus creature; and of his death 
aod future existence. In the prosecu- 
tion of the plan, however, Dr. Suns found 
so many mischievous errors, founded 
Epon and detended | by wrong notions of 
heman nature, offering themselves - to 
siew, that he did not think ic right to 
pess them by without notice, and there- 
fore concludes with a few strictures on 
them, and animadversions on that irre- 
kvious pinlosophy, whose pernicious doc- 
trmes have been spread over Europe and 
America, to the unspeakable Injury of 
the religion, morals, and interesis of the 
inhabitants. Dr. Sims is in his eighty- 
eighth year; we like his work and recam- 
mend it. 
Retrospect of French 
Literature— History. 
Strictly speaking, perhaps Mrs, Lex’s 
. Pamphlet” ought to have no place in @ 
Retrospect of literature. The public, 
we believe, received an impression front 
the evidence which was adduced upon 
the trial of the Gordons, that is not likely 
either to be altered or removed by any 
defence of conduct at this time. We 
only wonder that such a defence should 
have appeared. 
The last work that we shall mention is - 
Dr. Greeory’s “ New and Complete 
Dictionary of Arts and Sissons Tn 
this, the articles which relate toe the 
several branches of natural and experi- 
niental Philosophy, and Natural History; 
the Chemical Articles, those on Anti- 
quities, Trade, Commerce, Finance, His- 
tory, Lave the Arts and Manufactures, are 
probably the best. The style it is writ- 
ten m 1s generally unexceptionable ; In 
the scientific articles it is plain and clear, 
and im some, which admit of ornament, 
it rises to elegance. The plates which 
accompany this ver y useful work are well 
engraved. 
ee er ET Ee Ie a TS 
HALF YEARLY RETROSPECT Or FRENCH LITERATURE. 
Ea 
HISTORY. 
HE French at this present moment, 
T unfortunately for the repose ot 
Europe, appear to have tut fned their at- 
tention sulely to war. We accordingly 
find that their historical compositions, 
anstéad of being directed, as formerly, to 
the purpose of tracing the means by 
which small states become great, and 
mighty empires in their turn dwindle into 
insignificance, are now chiefly employed 
in the details their own exploits. 
Not content with their vernacular toiue, 
some of their writers hiave recurred to 
that of ether nations for this purpose, 
and the languag¢ adupted by Sailust to 
narrate the particulars of the jugurthine 
way, has recently been employed to pour- 
tray the battle of Jena, and the cam- 
patgns in Germany.” 
The following title is prefixed to an- 
other work, of which we shall hereafter “ 
perhaps, furnish a more complete an- 
alysis. 
“ Campagne des Armées 
of 
francaises, en 
* We allude to a work just published, en- 
titled .£6 Commentarii de Bello Gexmanico, 
3 
Prusse,en Saxe, et en Polhanayhaee lecom- 
mandement de S. M. ?Empereur et Roi, 
en 1806.’ Lhe Campaign of the bratok 
Army in Prussia, Saxony, and Poland, 
under the Command of his Majesty the 
Emperor and King, &c. with the Por- 
traits of the Emperor, Prince Murat, 
Mr. Fox, &c. 
The first volume onlyof this work has been 
as yet published, which is accompanied 
with a plan of the battle of Jena, and 
adorned with copper-plates and six por- 
The next is to contain engravings 
of the King and Queen cf Prussia, the 
Marshals de Mollencorff, Kalkreuth, 
Blucher, the Duke of Brunswick, and 
Mr. Fox, copied from full length pictures. 
The Author boasts in his introduction, 
that be has not confined himself to a 
sar recital of the celebrated actions 
ad famous marches of the French army, 
but has taken care to compare recent 
events with those that have occurred on 
the same theatre during fermer times, so 
that- oflicers may be enabled. to judge, 
and to decide for themselves. In addi- 
tion to this, two celebrated men are 
brought into contact, and Frederick II, 
who himself wrote a Histor y of the Seven 
Years 
tra nits. 
